Disclaimer: All hail Jo Rowling for giving us Harry and his world.
A.N. Hey guys! I'm back! I couldn't keep away much longer. The break I took helped me out greatly, and I couldn't stay away from you guys and leave you hanging like I did. Thanks to all of you who offered your support and kind words after I broke up with my boyfriend, it helped a lot to know that you guys cared.
Dark-Illusion1: I am much better now. Thanks for your support.
MelancholyAnatine: Yes, I wholeheartedly agree, boys do suck a lot. And I can assure you, I ate so much chocolate within the past week, I think I gained about ten pounds from it.
Yuki Asao: You were right. Things are getting better. It still hurts slightly to think that it really is over, but after a few 'girls night's out' I can say that I'm definitely liking the single life again. Thanks much!
Insanity the Amoeba: All I can say is 'daaaaaaamn girl!' He must be one hell of a guy to be with him for six years! I thought about your advice to totally annihilate him in public and such, but I can only say I'm really not that bitter. Although, the first night after I broke it off, it sounded pretty tempting, but, I ended it on my terms, seeing's how I couldn't put up with his crap anymore. He truly is a great guy, and I still want to be friends with him. Oh well, I guess we can't have everything in life, right?
Thanks again guys! Now, on with the story!
Come What May
Chapter Thirteen
Once people became bored with the subject of Hermione and Lucius, it was apparent that all that anybody could talk about anymore was the approaching Christmas ball. Nobody really knew what had been planned, due to the sworn oath of secrecy that both Hermione and Draco took. Rumors spread like wildfire throughout the castle, and Draco and Hermione found themselves unwilling targets of bombardment of question.
"Fucking hell, Parkinson! For the last bloody time, I will not go with you to the damn ball! And quit asking me! And another thing, if keep telling people that I'm going with you, I will be forced to invoke the rule that states no trolls are allowed to attend the ball! Which would immediately disqualify you from coming! Now leave me the fuck alone!"
Draco stalked away from Pansy, leaving her with a very ugly look on her face. Hermione grinned at him from her place at the end of the corridor, having watched the whole thing, waiting for Draco so they could walk to Potions together.
"I must say, you handle stress well," she said slyly.
He threw her a disgruntled look , but otherwise said nothing. He was just bursting to say more, but an amazing display of self-control kept it otherwise bottled inside.
"Oh, come on, I know you have more to say on the subject," she teased.
He grunted. "So help me Merlin, if she comes up to me one more time. . ."
"Don't grit your teeth. You'll end up with a lack of them later on in life. Relax! Don't take it so seriously! All you have to do is give her a nice 'fuck off' and that should take care of it," Hermione tried to reason.
"Have you not seen how many times I have told that walking specimen of chlamydia that I have no interest whatsoever in going with her to this damn ball? I've lost count! And as for all the stupid and pointless questions she keeps asking me. . ." he trailed off, glaring at a few passing first years, who all squeaked and ran for cover.
She giggled. "Well, you had better get a move on about getting a partner. You realize the ball is only two weeks away?"
Draco suddenly looked awkward. "Erm, yeah, about that. . ."
They walked into the dungeon for Potions and set their things down on the same table, as always.
"About what?" Hermione asked absentmindedly, pulling out her copy of Advanced Potion Making.
"About the ball and having a partner."
She looked up at him quizzically.
"Doyouhaveanyonetogowithyet?" It all came out in a rush.
She giggled uncertainly. "Come again?"
He took another deep breath. Why the hell was he so nervous about this? He had no issues with shagging a girl he hardly knew, so what could he not calm down long enough to ask her to go with him to the damn ball?
"It's just, well, I don't have a partner yet. And, erm, neither do you, right?"
She nodded slowly, knowing where this was going, and finding it extremely hard to restrain the grin that was fighting through.
"Well, I was just thinking, you know, we planned the whole thing and stuff, and we know what's going on, so-"
"For Merlin's sake! Yes, Draco, I will go with you to the ball. That's all you had to ask," she said exasperated, laughing at the look on his face.
He sat down abruptly, numbing shock spreading through him. She said yes. She said she would go with him. SHE SAID YES!
She sat down next to him, shaking her head at his apparent lack of social skills suddenly, but otherwise smiling.
He looked up at her suddenly, a grin lighting his face, not at all like the usual smirk that lit his features. It was a nice change.
"You're serious, right? You'll go with me?"
"Yes, Draco. You see, when I say I will do something, I generally do not go back on it, nor do I make it up just to hurt someone."
He scowled at her, realizing there was a hidden message in that. "I take it I'm supposed to learn from your example?"
She smirked. "Glad you caught on so quick."
He opened his mouth to say something, but, as timing was usually not so nice to him, the rest of the class filed in and Slughorn appeared at the front of class, calling for them to all settle down and get ready to brew the next potion in their books.
The rest of the day passed by quickly for Hermione, who found herself grinning at the slightly things. She was truly happy for the first time in a long time.
"What are you grinning at?" Harry asked happily as they sat down for dinner in the Great Hall.
Ron was already shoving down his chicken casserole on Harry's other side.
"Oh, I'm just happy, that's all. Things are starting to look better," she replied, twirling her fork around on her plate, not realizing she was fantasizing about the ball.
"Something must have gone well today, you haven't grinned like that in a long time," Harry commented.
"Hmmm. Yeah, I suppose," she said dreamily, watching, in her mind's eye, herself dancing the night away with Draco.
"You know, the way you're acting right now, you could give old Luna Lovegood a run for her money," Ron said through a mouthful of sprouts.
Hermione looked up, startled. "Wha-what?"
Harry and Ron both grinned. "That got her attention."
"So, come on, tell us, what's got you in such a great mood?" Ginny asked, sitting down on Hermione's other side.
She grinned at her redheaded friend, letting the obvious twinkle in her eye speak for itself.
"Oh my Merlin! It's happened! He's finally grown himself a set of balls!" Ginny laughed, hugging Hermione hard.
The boys were looking extremely confused.
Ginny scoffed at them. "So, what are you wearing? How are you doing your hair? Make up? Come on, I need details here!"
Ron looked between the two girls several times, trying to figure out what was going on. "Harry, mate, are you understanding any of this?"
He shook his head. "Not a word. Which is saying something, considering how much we've been putting up with this lately."
Ginny turned around to face them. "You guys are idiots, you know that? Hermione's been asked to the ball!"
The confusion instantly left their faces.
"By who?" Ron asked stupidly.
"Malfoy," Harry said, comprehension dawning on him rather quickly.
"Finally got there, have you?" Ginny teased.
"Oh, shut it," Ron said sourly, turning back to his dinner.
Hermione looked over at him and his sudden change of mood. "Oh dear."
Ginny turned Hermione to face her. "Don't worry about him. He's just jealous because he knows he's not the world's greatest person when it comes to asking girls out. Well, in Lavender Brown's case-"
"Ginny! Shut up!" Ron hissed.
"What? I was merely saying, you displayed some remarkable skills when it came to Lavender. Although, I'm pretty sure you guys never exchanged more than a 'hello' or a 'good bye' in that relationship. At least, not that I ever saw. All I ever saw was you two firmly attached at the-"
"Come on Ron, we've got Quidditch practice, mate," Harry said, quickly cutting Ginny off in an attempt to keep the next war from happening.
Ginny grinned sweetly at her brother, who was now looking as though he would like nothing better than to throttle her.
Hermione looked amused. "You do know how to piss him off, Gin. I'll give you credit where credit's due."
"What can I say? It's part of my charm."
"So are you going with Harry to the ball, then? I want to hear all about it. . ."
Dinner was spent trading details about what was going to happen the night of the ball. Ginny would be going to the ball with Harry after all, despite the fact that Harry kept adamantly refusing to be with Ginny for fear of her life. Ginny would be wearing robes of the palest gold imaginable, with matching ballet flats. As for her hair and make up, it was yet to be decided upon.
"I'll probably just wave my wand around and let the magic decide what it wants to do with my hair. And as for my make up, well, I'll just put the minimal amount on. After all," she smirked here, "Harry likes the more natural look, if you know what I mean."
Hermione grinned. "Sounds like you've got everything under control then. It should be a blast, but I won't say anymore on the subject. Draco and I swore ourselves to secrecy until the night of the ball."
Ginny pretended to pout. "Not even the slightest little thing? Nothing of great importance that wouldn't matter?"
Hermione shook her head. "Not a word, Ginevra."
As the ball approached, however, Hermione found it harder and harder not to say anything about it to Ginny, as her excitement was growing.
She figured it had to be a start, being excited for something as simple as a ball. But it was important to her, to be able to go to something as normal as a ball after everything that had happened over the past months.
She had everything all planned out for what she was to wear and what to do with her hair. She had planned it all out almost as soon as she and Draco had finished with the final details of the ball. Draco had been pressing her for details on what she was wearing, so he could "match" her colors, but she refused to tell him.
"Just wear black, it goes with everything, silly," she kept telling him.
But he wouldn't listen to her.
"So help me Merlin, Hermione, if I have to break into your room and find what your wearing, I will!" he exclaimed after her retreating back as she went upstairs to her room.
"Hmmmm, guess I'll just have to seal my room with a complex locking charm, then," she muttered to herself with a grin.
Of course, the thought of him breaking into her room let her imagination run a little wild. She knew she was starting to feel better due to the sudden, dirty thoughts coursing through her mind.
'Oh the possibilities. Imagine him breaking into my room while I'm asleep. I know he feels something for me. Imagine me waking up to that beautiful face mere inches from mine. . .'
She shook her head, causing the scandalous thoughts to disappear. "I have got to control that," she told herself firmly.
She definitely didn't want to hear the Voice's take on her thoughts either. That was the last thing she needed right before the ball, to have another lovely chat with the Voice. And she definitely did not want to have another breakdown, not now, not after having gone almost a month without one.
She prided herself on the fact that she hadn't had to take any of that Prozac potion lately either. She was getting back to normal, and by remembering happier times with her parents, she was able to keep a more positive frame of mind.
Yes, things were starting to look up for Hermione. And if she could have foreseen what was to come at the ball, she would have been even happier to know that life could become so much better for her.
The night of the ball had come. It was Friday evening, their last day of classes before their Christmas holiday started.
For Hermione and Draco, the day was hardly what you could call 'stress free.' Professor McGonagall had insisted on their supervision of the Great Hall three hours before the ball began, which, in Hermione's opinion, was highly ridiculous, seeing how she and Draco had outlined everything for the decorations in their preparation plans, and figured any idiot with half a brain could figure out what to do.
Needless to say, when they returned to their common room, an hour and a half before the ball was to begin, their tempers were running extremely high.
"For the life of me, I do not understand why they could not figure out what we wanted done. We didn't even do anything while we were there! It was a complete waste of time! All McGonagall had to do was supervise and make sure things were being done according to the fucking diagrams we had drawn out! I mean, what the hell!" Hermione yelled as she stalked into the common room ahead of Draco.
The portraits of Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin looked down upon her, wearing shocked expressions.
"Young lady! Do watch your language!" Slytherin called down to her from his position above the fireplace.
Draco watched, with a bemused expression, as she told Slytherin to go do something that Slytherin would have never imagined doing. Come to think of it, the rational Hermione probably would have never said what she did, either.
Slytherin looked highly offended, looking for words to tell her off, but otherwise failing.
"Hermione, do think of who you're talking to. The dear founder of my beloved House," Draco said slyly as he walked upstairs.
She growled at him as she followed his footsteps. "Don't push it, Draco. That was complete rubbish we had to do and you know it."
He held up his hands in defense once they reached the landing. "Hey, don't take it out on me! I'm just as pissed as you are! We both need showers, and right now, we are down to about," he consulted his watch, "a little under an hour and half for us both to get showered and ready."
She stopped, looking shocked at the lack of time they had. "Well, then, I guess I'll shower first, since I'll take longer to get ready."
Draco opened his mouth to argue, but decided it would be wise of him to not piss off the girl he was taking to the ball further.
"Go ahead, but make it fast," he muttered, retreating to his room.
She took the fastest shower she could ever imagine taking while getting ready for something as important as a ball. With a towel wrapped firmly around her, she peeked into Draco's room to tell him the shower was free, then retreated hastily into her room before he could come barging in on her with nothing but a towel on.
Hermione pulled out her dress robes and her matching heels and proceeded to dress quickly so that she would have enough time to fix her hair and put on her make up.
She peeked into the bathroom to see if Draco was out of there yet once she had finished dressing and, seeing the bathroom empty, hastily went back in to use the mirror over the sinks.
Draco glanced at the clock over his mantle in his room and saw they had a half hour to get dressed and down to the entrance hall, where every one was to gather before the ball was to begin. With a disgruntled sigh, he threw on his black tuxedo and quickly laced up his black dress shoes.
He wandered over to the bathroom door and knocked sharply.
"Hermione? Are you in there?"
"Yes! I'm almost done! Give me five more minutes!" came the yelled response.
"We have a half hour left! You had better hurry it up a little!"
"Keep it up pal, and you're going to end up walking around ball-less!"
With that, he turned around and walked quickly away from the door, preferring very much to keep his manhood intact.
With one last glance in the mirror, Hermione stepped back and smiled, satisfied with the end result of her hair and make up job.
"Well, Draco, if this doesn't get your attention, I'm not exactly sure what else to do," she muttered, fixing a few stray curls in her hair style.
With ten minutes left until they were due down in the entrance hall, Draco retreated back downstairs into the common room to wait for Hermione. He had no doubt in his mind that she would look amazing, due to the fact that she was refusing to tell him what all she had planned to wear.
Tapping his foot with impatience, he again looked at his watch. Five minutes to go. He started to pace. Dammit, Hermione, hurry it up already!
"Hermione! We've got five minutes to get down there!" he bellowed, turning around with every intention of going upstairs to drag her down if he had to.
His breath caught in his throat when he turned around to see her gracefully descending the stairs. He was at a loss for words when he saw her.
She saw the look on his face, and smiled sweetly. This was exactly the reaction she was hoping for.
She was wearing floaty, satin dress robes of deep purple and silver and pink. The neckline stopped just under her collarbone, and she wore a pretty, sparkling choker of rhinestones matching the colors of her robes. Her hair was curled wildly into full banana curls and pulled back carefully and secured with sparkling rhinestone bobby pins. She had accented her almond eyes with a combination of light purple and silver eyeshadow, and a dash of mascara to lengthen her lashes. Pale pink lip gloss graced her smile, and a touch of shimmer powder along her collarbone made her radiant.
She reached the bottom of the stairs and seemed to glide over to where Draco was standing.
"Well?" she asked, twirling around for him to get a better look.
He forced himself to swallow. His mouth had suddenly gone dry, and his brain seemed to have ceased function.
"I, erm, you look, huh. . .you're amazing," he finally managed to babble out.
She smiled even wider, revealing her straight and white teeth. She looked him over as well.
Draco wore a simple black tuxedo with a white shirt under his jacket. His bow tie was black, but accented with silver and green threading. His hair, normally messy and unruly, was carefully combed into place.
"You don't look so bad yourself. Although, it would do you better to stick your eyes back into your head," she teased.
He gave his head a little shake and saw the sparkle in her eyes.
"Well, shall we go?" he asked, offering her his arm.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy, I do believe we shall," she said, taking his arm and allowing him to lead her out of their common room.
When they reached to top of the stairs to descend down into the entrance hall, they found it packed with students, all wearing their very best attire. They all looked up expectantly at the two, as though waiting for some sort of word.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Christmas ball!" Hermione said graciously, nodding to professors McGonagall and Flitwick, who promptly opened the doors to the Great Hall.
Immediately, music began filling the hall as everyone shunted forward to go inside. There were many exclamations of delight and awe as the students took in the decorations.
"Well, let's get this over with," Draco said, descending the stairs with Hermione still on his arm.
Everything in the Great Hall looked exactly as they had wanted. The extravagant Christmas trees, decorated lavishly, were everywhere. Icicles hung from the walls and the candelabraEnchanted candles floated in midair, and Christmas lights, which were live pixies, fluttered over each of the small tables situated around the dance floor.
On the far wall, where the High Table normally stood, a platform had been set up, upon which the Weird Sisters were now playing, much to the delight and enthusiasm of their fellow students. However, before the dancing was to begin, the Christmas feast was to take place.
Students were situating themselves at all the small tables, and picking up the menus that sat at each place setting. Many of the older students knew what to do to get their food, and after a few minutes of decisive reading, placed their orders with their plates.
Hermione looked around happily, taking in the enthusiasm and excitement of those in attendance.
"I think we've been a hit, Draco," she murmured as he led the way over to the table where Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Ron's date, Luna Lovegood, sat.
Ginny squealed in delight as she saw Draco and Hermione approach, ecstatic at how happy Hermione seemed to be with Draco beside her.
Harry and Ron looked around at her squealing, and Luna smiled vaguely at the two as they sat down.
"Hermione! Ahhhh! You look so amazing!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Thanks Gin! You look good too! And Luna, I love your robes!" Hermione gushed.
Luna again smiled vaguely and pulled at the sleeve of her blue and green spangled dress robes. "I've had these for awhile. It's nothing."
The boys were looking amazed at Hermione's appearance and overall happiness.
Hermione was barely aware of what she was eating as they all ate their way through dinner. Once everyone had finished, the Weird Sisters took up a much more faster paced beat, and soon, the tables were cleared away to make more room on the dance floor for everyone.
It seemed, this time around, Ron and Harry were much more compliant to dance with their dates than at the Yule Ball during the Triwizard Tournament. Hermione had definitely never seen them happier; Harry dancing crazily with Ginny, who was red faced and laughing, and Ron, who was being taught some bizarre moves, thanks to Luna.
The music slowed considerably, and almost automatically, everyone and their dates were wrapped around each other.
Draco pulled Hermione close, hoping his nervousness wouldn't show, as his hands were shaking slightly as he rested them on her hips.
Hermione leaned into him, feeling, if possible, happy enough to burst. She rested her head on his shoulder, having taken her heels off to dance in bare feet. He smelled tantalizing, like fresh air, cinnamon, and that delightful musky guy scent. She breathed deeply, letting her mind go blissfully blank.
Draco tilted his head to rest on top of hers. He inhaled her sweet scent, something like vanilla and almond. He felt so content and at peace with the world at the moment, nothing, not even his father and everything thing else messed up in his life, could bring him down.
He felt her sigh happily into his shoulder and smiled. This was how it was supposed to be: they were supposed to be happy together and he was supposed to be her savior. He was going to make things all right again, and they would figure out a way to make all the madness go away. He not only needed to be there for her, but he wanted her. In every way imaginable. When this change had come, he had no idea, but at that moment, he knew that she was his, and he was hers, and nothing was going to come between them.
"Let's go for a walk, shall we?" Draco asked when the song had ended.
Hermione nodded and allowed him to take her hand. They walked out of the Great Hall and out onto the frosty grounds, breathing in the cold night air and admiring the full moon above them.
They followed the path down to the lake, not speaking, not needing to. They stood at the shore of the lake, watching the moon reflect far out on the water where it wasn't frozen yet. The water moved slightly in the chilly wind, distorting the moon's reflection.
Without realizing she was cold, Hermione shivered.
Draco immediately noticed, and slipped off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders.
"Thank you, Draco," she said softly, looking up into his eyes, which twinkled down on her.
"Not at all."
"I mean, for everything. Thank you for helping me deal. Thank you for taking me to the ball. Thank you for being the shoulder to cry on when I needed it. Thank you for-"
"Shhhh," he said, placing a finger to her lips.
She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with happiness and hope. She had come a long way because of him, and for that, she would be eternally grateful.
"There is no question any more about it, Hermione. I'm here for you, always," he said quietly, letting his fingers trace along her jaw.
Her hand lifted and rested on top of his.
"Draco," she whispered.
His lips met hers softly, asking. She felt warmth spread from her fingers down to her toes. This was what she had been looking for.
And he was here to stay.