"Welcome to your first double transfiguration of the week. Nice to see you have been able to attend this lesson Mss Granger." Professor McGonagall nodded to Hermione. "As you will remember, this lesson was traditionally used for practise for the Yule ball. And so, will also be allocated as such for the Hisui Doragon ball." Immediately, the girls all brightened up.
"Now for the guidelines." With a wave of her wand, the black board span over and showed several diagrams. "All young girls will wear dresses of Green jade, of any design you wish." The girls giggled and already al least half the class had ideas in their minds of what they were going to wear. "And the boys will wear these robes." She Asioed a long black outfit before her in the air, and levitated it with wingardiam leviosa. "The boys will wear these long tux style shoes and slacks. Also the white shirt, but with the frilly sleeves, cuffs and collar." At the first mension of 'frilly', there was a groan from the male population of the class. "On the outer wear is the black diner robe, with your family crest on the back. And there will be a spell on the door to ensure that you are wearing your own family crest, not anyone else's." Hermione noticed Draco shuffle at her side at that. "And that is the regulation ball wear for the boys.
"So Draco can't wear his mask then?" Lavender asked, and everyone listened intently. Especially Draco.
Professor McGonagall thought for a moment, and turned to her desk.
"I shall just refer back to the dress code…" a large black book thudded onto the desk, and dust flew from the aged pages. More dust rose up as the cover was opened, and the pages disturbed. "Let me see…masks…masks…masks…" she repeated under her breath as she turned the pages. "Ah." She said, reading the page in her head. "No, Mister Draconian may not wear his mask. It is forbidden." A sudden uproar came in the class of heated discussion. At last they thought they would be able to see what he looked like. Hermione however could see how uncomfortable Draco had become, dropping down in his chair as much as he could, and his head hung forward. At first she thought he was afraid of this news, but she soon changed his mind.
Draco jumped up and snarled loudly at the transfiguration teacher.
"I will NOT be going to that 'ball' without my mask."
"Then you will not be going at all, Master Draconian." He hadn't expected that. "Either you shed your mask and obey the rules like everyone else has to, and attend the ball…or you do not attend at all."
"I refuse to 'shed my mask'."
"Then you are forbidden to go to the ball." There were several gasps, and Draco was shaking with anger. He looked to Hermione, and then back to Prof McGonagall. At first he was silent, and looked stupefied to the spot.
"I will be coming round with slips to attend the dance. I must have these slips back by the end of this term for you to be able to fit in the hall." She came round the class room very professionally and handed everyone a slip. She got to the back, and walked past Hermione.
"Professor, don't I need a slip?"
"No dear, you are the head girl. It is obvious you will be going to open the ball with the head boy. That is why young Malfoy hasn't got a slip either." The professor's smile faded as she looked up slightly at Draco D. "Now…will you be having a slip, or not?" he didn't answer her at first, but hung her head forward.
"No, I will not." He said, and Hermione could have sworn she heard a heartbroken undertone to that. "I will not…"
"Very well." Prof McGonagall returned to the front of the class, and put the spare slips on her desk. "Now then children, I would prefer it if I didn't have to put you into partners. As you will not be attending the bal Draco…you will not be required in these lessons anymore." He snapped his head up and looked to Hermione.
"Please go to the ball…" she whispered at him pleadingly. He sighed and stood up again. He turned his back to her, and sighed again.
"I can't…"
"Why?"
"I just cant." He said curtly, back to his old ways and walked off. The door slammed behind him and Prof McGonagall cleared her throat to get the class's attention back.
"Well, now that that is over and done with, partners please." Hermione just sat there.
She was going to get Draco to dance with her, and take her to the ball. But he wasn't going, he couldn't. even if he wanted to, he couldn't risk anyone finding out about his heritance. She was smart enough to know that if he was 'found out', there would be a huge enquiry as to whether he was dangerous, and how he 'came into being'. That would be the last thing he needed.
So she sat there, putting he things back into her satchel and watched as everyone paired up.
Ron went with Lavender, who surprisingly looked giddy about this, Harry went with Cho, who also looked pleased with this result, Neville with Ginny (as the years 6 and 5 had now combined for only the Hisui Doragon ball lessons), and even Luna Lovegood went with Colin Creevy.
Pansy who had recently joined the 'inter house popular girls dieting club and then inner circle', pulled off Zabini, and she looked ecstatic about it. "And remember children, who you dance with here, will be more than likely who you dance with at the ball. So choose wisely. Hermione sighed and wanted to just slip away. This had always happened to her, even at the Yule ball she practised with either the Professor or on her own. Until Viktor asked her to dance with him.
She rested her forehead on her desk, her arms folded around her head and her long mane of brown hair fanned down her back.
"Ahem." She looked up from her self made hiding place, and raised a brow. "You can hardly dance sat down, not can you? Not even you can do that, Granger." None other than Draco Malfoy, the Slitherin Casanova himself was smiling at her and had one hand outstretched to her. "May I have this dance?"
"With who?" alright, it wasn't the smartest question she had ever had, but not even Hermione would have made the connection between Draco asking her to dance, and meaning her.
"You, who else?" he chuckled, and took her hand gently from the desk. "Now show me what your made of Granger."
"Wait, I can't, wait!" he pulled her into the centre of the room, and pulled her against him. One hand held her right hip, and the other held her hand in a traditional dancing pose. "I can't dance."
"That is why we are having lessons." He rolled his eyes. "For the smartest witch in our year, you are slow today."
"Wait, you are asking me to the ball? Why!"
"Perhaps." He pressed his front against hers. "Because I might just want to. How does that sound?"
"Un-Malfoy like."
"Call me Draco."
"Then call me Hermione."
"Touché." He chuckled. "Hermione." He smiled dashingly and stepped to one side like Prof McGonagall told them to. "You are supposed to follow my lead."
"Oh, right." She looked down, and stepped after him. Music sang through the air softly, like a phoenix song, elegantly soothing their nerves. Well, everyone's but Hermione's. she still looked to her feet and followed Draco's lead.
"Look up at me." He chuckled.
"I need to look down to see what I am doing." She countered.
"Look at me." He insisted politely. Cautiously she looked up and into his grey eyes. "Much better. Now keep looking into my eyes and follow me." He was quite the dancer actually, she remembered being told that he was very light on his feet. But she assumed that was from his families shifty background, not the dance floor. "That's great. You're doing great Hermione." She then stopped and raised a very wary eyebrow.
"What are you doing?"
"Dancing." He rolled his eyes.
"No, I mean this." She indicated them both. "Us, you dancing with me and acting like you are…"
"Enjoying it?" he smiled and took her hip and hand again.
"I was going to say willing, but that will do."
"Because I turned Patel and Pansy down, to dance with you. So I had a choice and thus, I am willing. With me so far?" he twirled her suddenly, and she had to hold onto him tight or fall to the floor.
"Yes." She said, cautiously.
"And the fact that I am being pleasant to you and smiling, would mean I like dancing with you, so I am enjoying dancing with you."
"I gathered that much. Now tell me why."
"I think we have had a very bad start." He twirled her again, and they lingered with a long note, before starting off again. Even Hermione was getting the hang of this now.
"I can agree to that."
"As can I." he held her closer, and whispered into her ear. "And I am sorry about that. I want to…" they span again, and Hermione flinched when one of his ankles hooked around hers, putting his leg between both of hers. "Start over."
"And who put you up to that."
"Myself." Their little conversation went on as McGonagall instructed them over the music.
"And what do you hope to achieve?" she watched him with suspicion. He just smirked and put both his hands on her hips.
"Getting closer." He stepped back, and she stepped forward with him, her hands on his shoulders. "To you."
"Why? What do you want from me?"
"All in due time." He smiled. "As for now, get ready."
"What? Why?" She didn't have to wait very long before Draco pushed her up into the air, and twirled on the spot with her. He slid her down his body, and winked at her.
"For that." Her face was bright red, confusion a buzz in her mind and all logic had left her. Draco danced her all around the room, outdoing everyone else and getting not only 20 points for Slitherin, but getting 20 for Gryffindor too. "It was a joint effort after all."
The class ended, and Hermione didn't know what to do with herself.
In two hours, Draco D had been forbidden to go to the ball because he refused to go without his mask, Draco Malfoy had asked her to dance, and had he been…dare she even think it…flirting with her? And he insisted that they both got equal points for their houses, when it was blatantly obvious that Hermione had no idea what to do on the dance floor, where he did. She would have to ask him how he knew how to dance so well later…
She had Potions next, and her bag was over her shoulder.
And a hand slipped into hers. "Potions?" Draco Malfoy smiled at her, and waited for her response.
"Erm, yes."
"Then let's go." Hermione flashed a 'help me' look to Harry, but he was too busy drooling over Cho. And she was never going to ask Ron for help.
Malfoy led her off to Potions and the lesson with mister grouch himself. She looked around, but couldn't see Draco, her Draco anywhere in sight. "Seems your knight in black robes isn't here. Want to sit with me?"
"Well-"
"Great." Hermione gulped as Draco led her over to the !Slitherin! side of the room. She looked around for any sign of Draco D coming to her aid, and found none. Where is he? "Move it." He spat at his usual bench partners Crab and Goyel, who quickly left to sulk off on their own. Malfoy smiled to her instantly, and pulled her round with him to face the front, and his god father.
"Now today…" Snape seemed to have to look twice at who was sat with Draco, and raised a brow. "Lost Granger?"
"Actually." She chuckled weakly.
"No sir." Draco interrupted before she could go on. "She is my partner today." Snape seemed to wait for the punch line of the joke, until he realised he was being deadly serious.
"Well…pigs do fly." He turned to his main cauldron and scanned the class. He smirked with mirth, and became as arrogant as ever. "It appears that we have been graced with the absence of one less barbarian." Draco sniggered beside her, and Hermione flew her hand up. "You are very eager today Granger. I haven't asked a question yet, and your hand is already in the air." He said with his usual cruel aloof.
"Sir, it isn't fair for you to call one of your students a barbarian, when he isn't even here to defend himself." Everyone looked to Hermione, and were speechless. Since when had she spoke back at teachers like that? Even Malfoy looked taken aback. "Sir."
"20 points from Gryffindor for cheeky back chat, Granger. You may be able to take your N.E.W.T in Potions, but you will not disrespect my opinion of any of my students." He smirked coldly, and turned to the class. "Now for those who have half the brain to keep their mouths shut, turn to page 409 of Your Guide to successful brewing of potent potions, and prepare a veil of Paroxysm potion, labelled with your names and house…" he looked to Hermione and Draco. "Or houses…and be silent about it." All the students fumbled with their books, and Hermione pulled the ingredients down from the back shelf. Zabini pushed her side purposely to make her drop a jar of pickled ginger root, and snickered at her.
"Not got your body guard with you now have you, mousy brainbox." He snickered, and Hermione turned away. She was not going to let him get to her. "Guess you will have to go to the ball alone, now that he wont go with you. Poor little Hermione, nobody liked her. Nobody wants to take her to the ball."
"I do." She gasped, and looked over her shoulder. Zabini was wide eyed and unsure whether his heard was working at what he had just heard, and from whom. Draco Malfoy held the jar she 'dropped' and put it on the side bench.
"Erm, Did I hear you right Draco? You want to take Granger to the ball?"
"Yes, I do. Got a problem with that?" he scowled dangerously, and Zabini backed off.
"Wow man, what ever turns your wand on." He swiftly walked off, and Hermione still looked to Draco.
"Stupid idiot." He turned to Hermione. "So, we need this?" he pointed to the floating ginger roots.
"Yes…to balance out the vigorous affects of Parox plant seeds." She grabbed a pouch from the side, and started to pull other things from the shelves too. And Draco took them from her, doing errands to an fro. To Hermione, to the desk, and back. When they had all their ingredients, and equipment, they stood around their cauldron.
"So was that a clue enough for you as to what we need to talk about?"
"You said you wanted to take me to the ball." She blushed, and looked away. But she frowned too. "The tradition is for the head girl and boy to go to the ball together, and dance to start it all off." She fumbled with a knife to chop the ginger root up. She almost cut one of her fingers off, and dropped the knife from her trembling fingers. Draco picked it up, and walked behind her. He helped her hold the knife and slowly guided her how to chop it, and keep all your fingers.
"It is. And I was trying to ask you to go to the ball with me when 'you know who' walked in."
"What!" she opened her eyes wide at him.
"Oh, no, not that you know who. I meant Draconian."
"Oh…" she sighed with relief, until he pressed his front against her back. "But why would you want to go with me. You don't have to, you could take anyone else with you."
"I don't want anyone else." He whispered into her ear, and cupped her hands around the ginger root choppings. He moved her hands over the cauldron, and let the pieces fall into the bubbling mixture. He then released her hands, and dropped his hands down to hold her hips. "I want you." He whispered so huskily, she squeaked in her throat. "I want only you. And I know our past would make you doubt that." He pulled up and started to pour a mixture of ground down Skrewt feet, and ale to hide the odd flavour, into the potion. "But I have ever intention of proving myself to you. I will prove my intentions towards you, to you."
"But why? Only the other day you were a jerk to me." She said quite frankly. "Why do you…'want' me."
"Because I do." He smiled to himself, this was going to be easier than he first thought. "I really do." His hands stroked her hips, and she could feel his hot breath on her ear. "And not just for an anchor to society or my education. My friend…and some." He then pulled away and stood next to her, as Snape had just started to walk this way. Hermione looked over to Harry and Ron, and saw Harry holding Ron's wrists behind his back with a binding spell, and pulling his shoulders to stop him charging over there. He looked furious. "So…" she looked back to Draco gingerly, as he placed a hand over hers on the work top. "Will you go with me to the dance?" he looked so sincere, it was impossible for him to be the same boy from only a few days ago.
"I will think about it." And she mentally smacked herself. How could she even let him think she would even consider his proposal after all the things he had done to her? But the words had just slipped out of her mouth before she could stop herself.
"Brilliant." He said, very Britishly, and turned to the front. "So, what do you have planned later?"
"Me? Oh, well, I, erm."
"She has plans later, Malfoy." At first she thought it was Draco, so she span round and beamed at him. But it wasn't Draco, it was none other than Ronald Weasley. "And she will be coming with us now, right now." He was obviously free from the bind that Harry had him under, who was oddly stuck to his chair…and grabbed her arm. Hermione could only open her mouth to protest, before Ron had dragged her over to his and Harry's bench. Draco looked like he was about to come over and drag her back, when Prof Snape stood in his way.
"Let her stay with them boy. She belongs with them. If you needed help in potions lad…" he leaned forward and spoke almost fatherly. "I would have been more than happy to assist you."
"Thank you, but I…never mind sir." He turned to his cauldron, and stirred it.
Meanwhile, Hermione was scowling at a furious Ron, and a very sheepish Harry.
"Well?"
"Well what?" aHHHHHHoaljf'lSKFHSl;kfh'LHarry said cheerfully, as if to try and suggest nothing had happened.
"Well what? I have just been dragged from one side of the classroom to the next, told what I was and was not doing, and you ask me, well what?" she folded her arms and tapped her foot. "I would like an explanation Harry."
"I didn't do anything!" Harry protested, as Ron poured his powdered newts into the mixture. "Look, can you help us out maybe? Our potion is blue, and everyone else's is white." Hermione looked into the cauldron. "That is because you haven't added the Ginger root. Here." She started to take charge of the class project again, like she has for years, almost as a tradition, and Harry smiled. He had his two friends back together again.
True, they weren't talking, Hermione was pretending Ron didn't exist, and Ron was just scowling permanently. But they were together, and that was all that mattered to Harry in the end.
Although he didn't like how Draco Malfoy had been 'clinging' onto her like that.
They were starting off the potion, and had done everything perfectly, until Harry saw Draco stand behind Hermione and put his hands on her. He nudged Ron for his opinion, and wished he hadn't.
Ron had gone BALLISTIC and almost ran right over there, and would have, if it wasn't for Harry's snitch fast reactions. He grabbed his hands, conjured a rope around his hands, and pulled back on his shoulders. But round about the time Draco walked next to her, and made the first move to take her hand, Ron pulled free from his binds and bolted over to her.
Harry knew it was bound to happen, and he knew there was a reason why Ron acted odd around Hermione, more than ever now. And now he knew why.
Wait…I thought that tall and vicious liked her too…oh shit. Ron does look very scary when he is angry, but he has as much of a chance of Hermione flunking all her N.E.W.T.s as he does scaring off Draco. Damn…what's going to happen now? He looked to Ron, who was looking longingly into the back of Hermione's head. Ron liked Hermione. Draco likes Hermione. Even bloody Malfoy likes her now. And I just have to stand back and do what? I said I would help Draco, but Ron's my best friend. And Malfoy? What possible reason would Malfoy have for going after a 'dirty blood'? isn't he into purebloods forever or something?
Harry held his head, and not his scar. This is so confusing.
What next?
"What next?"
"Well I don't know my boy. This is certainly a tricky situation." Dumbledore sat forward in his chair, his elbows on his desk and his twinkling eyes closed in thought. "I can not change the rules my boy. Masks and head garments, even hats and turbans are forbidden."
"But I can't take my mask off. I can't go out in public like this!" he tore his mask off, and angry red and black eyes bore into Dumbledore, reminding him painfully of why he wore that mask. "I can't let anyone see this."
"Indeed you are right, you can not." Dumbledore frowned as Draco fisted the mask in one hand, and hung his head.
"What do I do? I, I never thought I would be asking you or anyone for help…but…"
"Professor Moody is excellent at disguises." He said, as if at random, and stood up. "Now off with you. I will be having a staff meeting soon, and need you to be…"
"Hidden." Draco sighed, and pulled his mask over his face once more.
"Do not worry boy. Soon you will not need to hide away. It is just while-"
"I know." He said curtly. "I know all too well."
"And I suggest you don't use your, 'hot air', in public anymore. Not unless you wish for him to hear of you. As we have spies in his organisation, he has his spies in ours. We do not know them, but the parents of some of our children here at Hogwarts will be in league with him. Even if the children are not aware of their parents activities, if they were to see you use your abilities, and innocently mention it in a letter home…"
"I understand." He turned his back. "Low profile."
"Indeed."
"I wanted to…" Dumbledore smiled. "I wanted to just…"
"I am sure if you are to serve that detention with Alastor tonight, and if your situation was to occur in light conversation…you might get the solution you are looking for."
"I doubt it. Old bat. Why do I have to serve a detention with a glass eyed hermit who sees nothing but my father in me?"
"To prove him wrong. That's why. Now go boy, and listen to what we have spoken of."
"I will…"
"You will…what?"
"I will." He stalked out, as usual, and didn't say 'sir' like Dumbledore had been waiting for.
"Oh Draco, you will never change."
AN: Ooooo and the story continues.
Draco is getting touchy feely with our favourite book worm, Ron is jealous and Harry is in the middle. What will happen if all three of them, Draco, Draco and Ron were all in the same room then huh? And will Hermione say yes to Malfoy now that Draco D can't go?
Wait for the next chapter, and find out!
And just for the sake of it, I will say this too.
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