A/n: Been a laborious chapter, since I have not really experienced the situation myself but oh well, yeah. Anyways I'm not too happy about the part in the middle happened a bit too fast for me didn't have time to fix it, but anyway I hope you enjoy it. Oh and its my 14th birthday by the way, I had a pretty crap day and its well that time of – moving on, jeez this is sounding like a diary but perhaps a lil' Birthday prezzie could be a review? Hint hint. Enjoy! Hopefully…
Chapter 11- Christmas Plans
When Hermione arrived from her dorm that night she spontaneously combusted into a fit of tears. She didn't know why she was crying, she just, felt like it. Yes there was an unmasked tinge of sadness coalesced with confused anguish but apart from this, nothing else. Using her pillow, she dried her tears and made attempts to calm down. The explicit notion that she had just kissed Draco Malfoy had not sunk in yet. She didn't think that she'd able to ever believe it, or perhaps even forgive herself for being attracted to him in the first place. Where did their relationship stand now? Hermione hated being clueless, but especially, confused. Worst of all, she was lost inside both. She was one hundred percent certain that she would not be able to sleep that night. She felt as if she were a murderer. It was as if she had committed a highly illegal act. In addition to the fact that she enjoyed the kiss upgraded her to a psychotic killer.
What was she to say to Harry and Ron?
"… Aw Draco yes it's bad news isn't it?" Whined an annoyed Pansy in the Slytherin common room laboriously filing her nails. "I had just received word from my mother saying we're spending Christmas with her apparently wealthy cousins in southern France, they own a chateau there apparently." Pansy examined the state of her nails, found an imperfection and started filing away again. "But don't you realise Draco? I won't be able to attend your Christmas Ball! And neither can Zabini, his mother is off in Bulgaria eloping again to another rich Wizard with no name and he'll be off there tagging along in their honeymoon I mean yuck!… So I won't be able to attend your Ball! You're going to be so alone…Draco? Draco? Draco are you even listening?"
Draco wasn't listening at all. He was too wrapped up in another vision he had experienced in addition to the damn good kiss he had just shared with the mudblood – no, Granger. What was he going to do about that? He had standards to uphold. He'd gone out with Slytherins and occasionally Ravenclaws, but Hufflepuffs were way below the belt. But Gryffindors? Completely out of the question. Pansy's situation with failure to attend his family's annual Christmas Ball was the least of his problems, in fact he found it a relief. However, he did have more pressing matters to think about, he was going to deal with this kiss. He was going to deal with his feelings also, for Draco Malfoy was always in complete control.
However in control Draco was or however psychotic Hermione was, they inevitably met the next night. Both tried to dream up of some way to avoid it. Hermione asking for more Head Girl duties and trying to hold a meeting then, failing due to short notice and Draco trying either to get in more Prefect duties or Quidditch Practices, both ideas failed. By habit, Draco arrived earlier than Hermione, Hermione only trailing behind him by a few minutes. Neither said anything as they sat down and began to read, Draco determinedly not looking at her and Hermione turning crimson every few seconds. They had survived in this choc thick atmosphere for quite some time. Hermione was even surprised that she could endure this much tension in the air for so long. So long didn't last long enough.
She placed her book carefully on the table and looked up. "So…" she spoke softly, wanting nothing more than to end this maddeningly uncomfortable silence.
"So…" He repeated.
They sat in silence and stared at one another.
"Look," he said quickly, leaning forward, "It did happen you know, you can't just pretend like the other night never existed."
She shot him a stern look. "Nothing happened and it definitely didn't happen." She refused to say what they did as if to do so were uttering words of sacrilege.
"Look that kiss definitely did happen whether you wanted it to or not." There, he said it.
"Well it shouldn't have happened!" Said Hermione angrily, "It was a complete mistake!"
"Even if it shouldn't have happened, that's not the point, the point is, is that we're going to have to face this problem." Said Draco growing frustrated with her.
"It wouldn't be a problem if we just say nothing happened." Argued Hermione seriously.
"So you're just going to pretend that nothing ever happened and you're going to continue on living normally just like that!" Asked Draco clicking his fingers, his temper rising quickly. They were bickering ridiculously like an old married couple.
"Yes." She insisted nonchalantly.
"Fine, then look me in the eye and tell me that you didn't enjoy kissing me, look me in the eye and tell me that kiss meant nothing to you." Draco's tone had grown to be subdued and dead serious. She closed her eyes, turned, and looked straight at him. Begging herself not to falter.
"I…" she faltered and failed, "I – look you cocky bastard, if this is your way of enhancing your ego then -"
"No dammit no! This is my way of finding out what they hell is going on between us." His voice rose once more as he started to look more and more flustered.
"Well -" She took a deep breath. "I -"
"You can't say it can you? Because you know it would be a lie. You wanted that kiss didn't you? Admit it!" He spoke forcefully.
"No! I didn't I -" She cried, looking panicky as she covered her face with her hands and shook her head. He took her hands away from her face and looked into her eyes. She was already close to tears. Draco was desperate for answers; he needed to know the truth. He craved the truth. If this were a one sided relationship then fine he would let it be, but if she felt something too… they needed to deal with this and quickly.
Hermione tore her gaze away and walked to the nearest shelf with her back to him. This couldn't be happening, she couldn't do this. Not now. Not ever. In moments she felt his presence behind her, taking a deep breath she turned around. His sharp gray eyes were staring straight at her, piercing through her shattered cover. He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Tell me the truth."
His voice was demanding, yet even. She looked away. "No… I didn't want – it didn't mean -"
"The truth." He repeated firmly and more slowly. Gently with his index finger and his thumb her forced her chin up, obliging her to look at him. Merlin, she was on the verge of tears.
"Alright! All right! Yes okay? Yes!" She cried falling into hysterics. "Yes I enjoyed the kiss, yes it meant something to me and yes I wanted it!" She admitted vehemently. She was breathing heavily, blinking the tears back and suddenly she became collected and serious. "But the bottom line is, that kiss should never have happened. Bottom line, that kiss will never happen again."
"How do you know that? How do you know that something like the other night won't happen again?" He asked in all honesty. "I know the truth Granger, you felt something and I felt something too. Denying that fact doesn't alter anything."
"I can live without kissing you Malfoy." She said darkly.
"Oh yeah? How sure are you about that?"
"Oh, well now you're just being an arrogant ass! Don't pretend like you know me." She yelled.
"Well perhaps I am but at least I'm willing to face this." He said, taking a step towards her.
She scoffed. "Don't call me a coward." She warned through her teeth. "I don't want to kiss you again Malfoy." Liar "And as of now, that kiss has meant nothing to me." She told him defiantly although hot, angry tears stung in her eyes.
"Oh yeah? Prove it." He said eyeing her with suspicion, contemplating whether he should do what he was about to do.
"You know I can't do that." She blinked back the ominous tears.
"Yes you can." All right, he decided he was going to do it.
"How?"
"With this - " And with the known seeker-like speed, he stepped up to her, cupped her cheeks in his hands and kissed her. And though Draco knew this was the only way to get the truth out of her, this was a sin. But he gripped her close in delicious passion. If he didn't control himself, he wasn't going to stop. Oh god help me…she thought desperately as she was helpless only to kiss him in return. The tears she was restraining flowed with ease down her reddening complexion and spilled onto Draco's hands. Her hands slid upwards to where his gently touched her cheeks. It was at this when Draco mercilessly tore his lips away, completely out of breath. "There, now that is the truth."
"I hate you." She spat, shying away defensively, roughly wiping away the tears. "That was unfair!" Unwanted tears prickled in her eyes again. "Unfair! I was – I was completely unprepared."
"Unprepared to what? Lie to me some more?"
Without even meaning to and even more so out of reflex, she slapped him. Slowly he turned to face her, wiping the small amount of blood away from his mouth with his thumb. He didn't look furious nor angry, just tired. "Look you're being ridiculous! Unless you want to turn this night into a re-enactment of the other night, you better stop being so juvenile!"
"Juvneile!" She repeated raising her hand to slap him again. He caught it.
"Ahaha! Caught you."
"You're accusing me of re-enacting the other night! Excuse me! You kissed me first!" She yelled haughtily, "So you better stop."
"Stop trying to choose the easy way out." He told her timidly, ignoring her outbursts.
"Easy way!" She cried turning to face him. "What easy way? Regardless of what we do, that kiss still means something to the both of us and I just can't wish my feelings away."
He took a step towards her and took her face in his hands; there he wiped her tears away with his thumb. "Instead you choose to ignore them."
"What do you want me to do? Embrace them? You know we can't do that."
"I know, so we work through them." He replied, advancing slowly. "It's the only logical option we can choose. It's the only option we can choose. I want to make sure these 'feelings' whatever they are, are gone."
"Or we could just pretend like none of this ever happened. You won't do anything and I won't do anything. I will stay in one piece." She exhaled slowly. Hopefully he would buy it this time.
"Why are women so bloody stubborn!" Draco exasperated, falling haphazardly into his chair. He let out a stressed sigh and closed his eyes. "You Granger will bring the death of me. What can I do to convince to you that your method is stupid?"
She glared at him for a full moment before pressing on. "So we have two logical options: Ignoring the situation – it IS a logical response Malfoy, every hear of ignorance is bliss?"(Ever hear of knowledge is power? Was his reply) " - and working through our feelings." Hermione continued. "Since we can decide to do neither I propose we deal with this in a democratic fashion, we try each in succession and which ever works best we'll go for."
"Finally! The first feasible statement that has exited your mouth this evening! I'll agree to this 'democratic proposal' only if we agree to attempt your ridiculous method first. I want to get you're failure of plan over and done with you see, and start with my superior plan of working through our feelings." Said Draco confidently. The real egotistic Draco had returned from vacation.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "For goodness sake you sound like a shrink. Like you, the cold heartless bastard you are would venture anywhere near emotional vulnerability."
"I'll work out my feelings on my own and you can do whatever you want with yours. And I'll take that as a compliment thank you very much, it implies the way in which you absolutely marvel at my talents in psychiatry." He said smugly, leaning back on his chair and placing his hands behind his head.
"No, I just marvel in which the way you can walk. The size of your head must surely outweigh the rest of your body." Said Hermione airily plonking herself in her seat and re-opening The Dark Arts, Clandestine Rituals and Prophecies. "Any new visions yet?"
"You are fascinated with that book." Said Draco looking astounded. "I have no idea how many times I've seen you with it. It's amazing. Either it's incomprehensibly fascinating or you just care about me much."
"Oh don't get your hopes up." She muttered scathingly. "Any new visions yet?" She repeated. The previous argument was completely forgotten.
"No, not really. But they are getting clearer. I can now make out the markings on the wall ruins, in that weird jungle." Said Draco flippantly as he flipped a page. In all truth, that's all his visions had displayed, he always stood in the exact same place surveying his surroundings. True, everything had elucidated, he could now hear the thick blanket of bird's cries, and he could feel the damp almost suffocating humidity in the air and the soft moist mush of mud beneath his feet. But most of all, he could now read the markings on the ruins beside him. At first he thought it was senseless chicken scratch, but recently they had come to illustrate some coherent meaning.
"Oh jeez it's getting cold." Said Hermione as she breathed into her hands and rubbed them together. She reached for her wand to perform a heating spell, but apparently Draco had beaten her to it. A breeze of warm air washed over her and settled around her, very cozy. She looked up to him.
"It was cold, and you were distracting me. Besides, it is mid November you know." He muttered flippantly. "Granger, just one question, if we are treating this situation as if nothing happened, does this mean I should be throwing some scathing insult about your heritage right about now?"
"I…um" Hermione looked troubled. "Right, probably."
"Whatever you say, mudblood." He answered. She raised an eyebrow.
"Ferret."
"Filth."
"Bitch!"
Draco scoffed as he lifted an eyebrow. How dare she call him a bitch! "Oh you just crossed the line, Granger, you just crossed the line."
"And I'm sure as hell glad that I did." She retorted, smiling.
"How dare you call me a bitch!" Said Draco His voiced raised on the prelude of yelling.
"How dare you call me filth."? Hermione replied. "Now you're just getting hurtful."
"Hypocrite! This was your idea!" Yelled, Draco looking outraged. And yet although, Malfoy's weren't supposed to hold temper tantrums, they were calm, collected and held all their emotions inside. "Now that's injustice, you're accusing me of being harsh when this was entirely your idea."
"Injustice? I tell you what's unjust: You kissing me when I wasn't even -"
"Oh don't give me that bullshit, you know you enjoyed it" Drawled Draco with an exaggerated eye roll. Hermione sighed and rubbed her temples.
"Okay, despite what you think, can we just get over the insult thing now. Okay new ground rule: no insults." She sighed once more hoping he would comply.
"Fine." He said brusquely, folding his arms in a childish manner – a manner which said, 'you're not my friend anymore'
"Good." She remarked in a snappish motherly fashion in accountancy to his childish behaviour. They both left the Library that night in air of high spirits (Hermione mostly, Draco grumbling at certain intervals that it was a stupid idea and they'd end up kissing each other soon enough – although he hated to admit he wanted it to happen)
For the week that proceeded they continued to carry out Hermione's plan almost without difficulty. Although there had been moments where she began to doubt her ability resist the charms of Malfoy. They ploughed on regardless of their feelings, Draco only doing so out of his underlying respect for her.
One such night had been an occasion where Draco had requested of her something, she thought she'd never hear. It been a usual night for Hermione, however Draco was under constant deliberation of whether he was losing his sanity or not, the argument that he was on the path to serious debilitating dementia had been succeeding in the inner-conflict.
His father had recently owled him, their upcoming annual Christmas Ball drew near, and by tradition it was duty for him to enter with a consort (in his case, a pureblood or high society date). Usually he entered the Ball with Pansy clinging to his arm, smirking at them all and smiling condescendingly as if she owned the place, only it had been Draco and his family who literally owned the riches, not her (obviously). But upon remembering the long, detailed and ridiculous story as to why the said clingy girl was unable to attend, it was up to Draco to again seek a suitable companion.
He had thought of many other Hogwarts girls, from Slytherin and Ravenclaw respectively, to request their presence at the Ball. He even lined them up in his head from the most presentable (or as he called it, 'from the hottest to the… looks-impaired'). He had also laid out a category of who had the most congeniality or who was most photogenic (these Balls did make the Prophet you know) down to whose family was the most pureblood prejudiced. The last category was included to which his parents would treat fairly because of where her family's loyalties lay. As he encountered the blue and green robed girls in the halls, he speculated which should be the lucky maiden, that was until he encountered Millicent Bulstrode, a Pig-like masculine bear of a girl hardly photogenic and would look like an extremely deranged and oversized pug in a gown. His features twisted tremendously just visualizing about the mental picture of her guffawing like Crabbe or Goyle, clinging to his arm as the Prophet's photographer took a blinding shot for the paper.
But regardless of how many times he had speculated, assessed, checked out or placed countless girls into categories, he always, always found himself comparing all of them to just one: Hermione Granger. She was the muggleborn, the Gryffindor, the exact of epitome of whom he specifically should NOT take. And yet he constantly compared every girl to her. The outpost of morality and dignity. He compared these high society girls to her. It was as he did when he casually strutted around the halls, eyeing some few up and comparing their hotness levels to this immaculate image of the perfect woman he envisioned. In truth, when considering girls to accompany to the Ball, the face that had immediately popped into his head like a spark was none other than Granger's. He laughed out loud, almost hysterically when it happened, oh the sheer tantalizing irony of it all. Granger's was the face that primordially surfaced in his mind, as evanescent as the thought was as he speculated amongst other girls, he knew who and what it would come down to regardless of the result. He would end up finding Granger the only girl suitable for the job (aside from the last part where she was a mudblood, if she'd accept his rather awkward invitation they'd have to work on that.)
So here he was, a few short weeks before the Ball about to ask her a 'favour' more like a 'privilege' to which, if he knew her well enough, she'd be disinclined and in the end decline his request. Only Hermione, in all her innocent frivolity had absolutely no idea of it all. The candles had been burning until their were halfway pools of cooled wax, the night not particularly eventful droned on, not that either of them complained. Draco's mind was made up: he was insane and should be committed immediately.
"What are your Christmas plans?" Asked Draco quickly and unnecessarily loudly out of random. He berated himself at this point to remain in control, he was Draco Malfoy, he was always in control. "I meant to say, do you have anything planned for Christmas?" He asked lowering his voice casually.
She looked at him, alarmed. "Other than that being a random question, why do you ask?"
He shrugged innocently, all a part of his play of course, and said. "The need for conversation"
Her eyebrows furrowed for a moment before she answered. "I'm not quite sure really, with all the craziness, I haven't thought about it. I think amongst Head Girls duties and Homework I had forgotten festivity. Perhaps the usual, spend it with my family and then pop over to Grimmaul – I mean Ron's place for the remainder of Christmas."
He raised an eyebrow…so she was free. He almost wished she wasn't to save him from doing this but since she was available, he ought to just ask her already. "Well, good for you."
"What are you doing for Christmas? Not staying here, surely." She inquired, peeking from the top of her book.
He smirked. "Granger, the only Christmas I have spent in this school is in fourth year, now I needed to be there for the Triwizard Tournament, not to mention the Yule Ball. That's a once in a lifetime opportunity and besides…" He smiled reminiscently. "…Damn those Beauxbatons girls were hot…especially their champion Delacour…too bad she's hooked up with a Weasley of all people…"
Hermione rolled her eyes, she wasn't expecting an earful of his hormonal or masculine surveys of the other contestants. But not to be hypocritical, as she did attend the Ball with the Durmstrang Champion Viktor Krum.
"You should remember Granger, as I recall correctly you did have a certain little interlude with Krum from Durmstrang." Said Draco, omitting the occasion where she rendered him speechless at the Ball with her appearance. Hermione's cheeks flushed a little pink. "… I was going to attend Durmstrang you know, fine school. Unfortunately mother wasn't too keen on 'shipping me off to Bulgaria' as she put it." He ended his voiced reminiscence at that point and finally reached the climax of the evening. "But in truth Granger, my family plays host to an annual Ball on Christmas Eve."
Hermione looked up. "Wow… how Malfoy-like of you."
"And every year I must attend as with an escort. Usually I come along with Pansy but -" Why was this so difficult to say?
Hermione let out a low whistle. "Bet Parkinson loved that."
"However this year, she's by some unimaginable reason unable to attend so I was wondering…if… youwouldliketotakeherplace." He mumbled quickly.
"Pardon? Didn't catch that sorry?"
Draco inwardly took a breath and calmed. "Granger I am asking you if you would like to attend the Ball with me." He may have been a nervous crumbling wreck inside, but on the surface he was as suave and calm as he needed to be. "Just as an escort of course… nothing more."
She blinked and stared at him for full ten seconds – before she started laughing. "You're joking right? Yeah like I'd be even allowed to lay my filthy eyes on the hallowed edifice you call a home. Nice one Malfoy, good way to bring in the Christmas cheer." But as she lay eyes upon his sangfroid expression, she knew immediately that he was not joking. "You're serious?"
"Do you accept or not?" He asked in an almost demanding tone. "It is a rare opportunity Granger."
She blinked again. "But why me? Of all people me, the mudblood, besides your father already knows what I look like, he's probably got a picture of me somewhere in your dungeons with blood smeared all over it as he mutters voodoo spells each night, praying for my death."
"Don't worry it's a Masquerade Ball." He said rolling his eyes. "Although the thought that my father would result to the crudeness of voodoo to plot the genocide of the world's muggleborns is highly unlikely."
"I don't think a piece of decorated plastic that conceals half my face is enough to fool a Death Eater Malfoy…" Said Hermione concernedly. "It would be nice to attend but I don't know, my family is really big on the concept of family unity at Christmas and I always spend the remainder of the holidays with the boys… I don't know." She added looking doubtful. "I'm really…"
"Don't apologise, I didn't expect you to accept anyway." Said Draco looking unfazed. He had to admit to himself though; his spirits had lowered quite a bit. He had to now revert back to the list, ah the list that Millicent Bulstrode was definitely the last on.
Hermione looked sincerely sorry, she resolved to find a way steal even just a few hours on Christmas Eve to attend it with him, she could disguise herself somehow and hopefully evade his parents for long enough to enjoy the night. The night returned to its usual norm. Hermione was trying to think up methods to sneak out of the house (would she ever?) or be let off on Eve and Draco was running the list through his mind, at certain intervals muttering names of possible dates. At times her eyes flickered to him as his eyebrows furrowed in deep thought. She resisted the urge to grab him then and either kiss or hug him. She was sanguine to the thought, but she knew she couldn't betray her method.
Fourth year…would she ever feel as carefree as she was at the Ball again? This could probably be her only opportunity, and from Harry and Ron's begrudging attitude towards Balls and as Parvati and Padma described, their 'appalling' treatment to their dates, Hermione knew they weren't too keen on attending any soon.
Eventually the night had drawn to a close. Draco was just about ready to leave, with a few names already made up in his head. Before his departure, Hermione grabbed his robe.
"Malfoy?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Thank you for inviting me and well…not referring to me as a last resort really. Thanks for noticing I was a girl." Said Hermione as she remembered the fourth year blunder with Harry and Ron, only realising after about three weeks that she was in fact female. "I would really love to attend… well um I'll try to see if I can…"
"Forget it Granger, who knows anyway? It's just a ball, don't need to be sympathetic about it." He shook his head. "Gryffindors…" He muttered to hide away his rising disappointment in the matter. She nodded and turned to leave.
"I really am sorry."
"Goodnight Granger." Said Draco brusquely, brushing passed her and into the night.
When she returned to the Gryffindor Tower that night she found Harry and Ron engrossed in a violent game of Wizard's Chess. "What is wrong with the both of you?" Berated Hermione almost outraged. She dropped her satchel and approached them. "You should be asleep or at the very least studying, we have a Potions Exam tomorrow and you're not doing the slightest bit to study for it! Harry, Ron, are you listening?"
"Yes." Answered Ron. "And we have studied, we're already finished."
"Then keep revising." Said Hermione succinctly. "You do want to pass don't you?"
"Don't get your knickers in a knot Hermione. We're fine – oh knight to H3." Ron exasperated. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Don't come complaining to me in the morning." She said as she picked up her satchel and made her way up the stairs, she suddenly stopped and turned around. "Wait, Harry, Ron?"
They mumbled in reply.
"What are we doing for Christmas?" She asked.
"Huh?" Asked Harry. "The Headquarters I suppose," Said Harry with a reserved expression. It was his place now and it was the place where Sirius had once lived, the memory of their last Christmas together had been a merry one full of joy, full of Sirius singing random carols at the top of his lungs in complete merriment.
"Mum said something about that." Said Ron, "Either in the Headquarters or the Burrow I think, most likely the burrow. Fleur isn't very fond of dark places."
"Right," nodded Hermione as she trundled back up the stairs. "The usual." Now all she had to do was owl her parents and find out what was going on with them. She owled them the next day, she felt that Malfoy needed an answer as soon as possible. His eyes flickered to her as they passed each other briefly in the halls, she would often hold a guilty silence to that.
Her parents' reply came two days later. Cousins were arriving from all parts of the country this Christmas, huge family event this one and they sounded excited. Hermione's heart fell at once. She was extremely excited to once again see her cousins once again, especially ones she hasn't seen in years but that would mean she would have to refuse a once in a lifetime opportunity.
She didn't want to refuse Draco, because… in truth, it would be nice to spend even just a few hours of Christmas with him, even though she was supposed to hate him. Hermione read further down the letter and discovered her close cousin Annaliese would be also arriving from Wales. A plan began to formulate in her mind. Annaliese, her boy-crazy, mischievous and expert cousin when it comes to secret visits to her boyfriend's place in the middle of the night… perhaps she could be of some help. If Hermione could somehow convince her that she needed to spend Christmas with a special someone…
She couldn't wait to tell Malfoy, she was so impatient in fact that she grabbed him after dinner one night and pulled him into an empty classroom.
"Ah what the hell? Jesus Granger you need to stop doing that." He complained darkly, readjusting his robes.
"I just want to tell you that I probably only have a few hours two…maybe four at most to attend your Ball." She said quickly, muttering a spell to make sure the door was locked.
"Are you telling me that you're accepting my invitation?" He asked incredulously.
"Well, yes. But I think, no promises, I can only steal a few hours, it's a Cinderella type of thing." She whispered.
"Cinderella?" He asked.
She shook her head and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. This is a pureblood I'm talking to. She reminded herself. "Forget it, just, yeah I can come."
"Well seeing as you can come, we seriously need to get to work." Said Draco seriously, eyeing her up and down.
"What do you mean seriously get to work?" She asked following his gaze down her body.
"I mean you have to a long way to go if you want pass yourself in my society, you have to talk like a pureblood, look an aristocrat and oh yeah… you have to learn the dance." Said Draco thoughtfully.
"Dance? What dance?"
Draco sighed, "Or we could just sit here and repeat everything I say only in question form." He grabbed her shoulders. "Listen Granger, it's an entirely different world contained in the one room. I've had the privilege of learning of it from birth, you are required to learn about this world, my world in just under four weeks and put up a convincing act. If any member of my family finds out who you are, you and I are dead…literally."
… Now how about that present as a review? Ok yes I know cliché, masquerade, Cinderella thingy but at least they know each other, I was caught up watching Disney movies and reading corny stuff recently so this whole wave of cliché – ness overwhelmed me, but I'll try to stay as far away from cliché as I can, but really I haven't written a 'cliché – ish' scene in a while… lol it could be fun! Until next time… Deeh ;)