Life After Hogwarts
Arime Setta
Chapter Three: A wonderful Valentine's Day
Now, I am sure you expected some beautiful bookworm-meets-sexgod-falls-in-love-and-has-a-date-to-the-ball story but I must admit the Valentine's Day ball was the worst night of my life. Of course I had no date to speak of, a beautiful dress that was wasted on a plain girl and a nest of a hair.
So, mid-day on February 14th Lavender Brown, Ginny Weasley and the Patel Sisters attacked me mid-stride on the way to the library. From there the day proceeded to get worse and worse. How is it that girls never get a clue? I had many other things on my mind, mainly researching the original ingredients for a Clowns of God potion, and was not in the least concerned with the ball.
The hardest part with a dance is getting ready. I had spent so much effort for the Yule Ball that there was no chance of matching the effect and thus the reactions from that night. I wasn't going with Viktor, I didn't have any of the necessary products and frankly, I had no motivation. What silly little Hogwarts boy is worth the money and effort to impress?
Of course, these words mean nothing to four determined pains in the bum. They had already spent the entire morning preparing their own hair and makeup that they had the entire afternoon free to torture me.
First, they forced me into the shower (which was not a necessary action, I am quite clean naturally) and then began to tease, fluff, rip, pull, twist, dye and spray my hair into cooperation. I am sure that you and I both realized sentences ago that cooperation was not the result. In the end I had an awful colored mess on my head that, unfortunately, refused to be magicked back into its original form.
At this point I was irritated, itchy (damn frufru dresses and glitter makeup) and slightly, just ever so slightly, lonely. Dances and Dates go hand in hand, Dances and books don't. The night could only get better right?
"Hermione, it really doesn't look that bad. It is just very different from what we are used to. Red is a great color- look at Ginny." Lavender fluffed Hermione's hair once more and scrunched her nose. The highlights they attempted to put into her hair had gone awfully askew and left the little know-it-all with a bright shade of almost pink splotching throughout her hair. The worst part was her orange dress clashed horribly with her hair and there was no hope for finding a middle ground for her make up. When all was said and done Hermione wiped the entire coat of make up off and tried to leave slightly teary eyed and rather flushed from the anger, attention and the tint of left over makeup.
"Seriously, Mione, you look fine lets just go. It'll be fun. The music will make you forget you're even dressed up." Ginny attempted a smile and grabber her friends arm just before she reached the door. With all of the attention surrounding her Hermione knew there was no way of escaping the dance and silently concede to the girls force. They made their way out of her dormitory and towards the entrance of the great hall where all of the boys were waiting.
The hallways were brightly decorated with fairies and hearts. The air smelled of sweets and the entire school seemed bursting with romance. Hermione groaned and rubbed her feet just before reaching the great hall. She had hoped to slip in silently but since it was so late (fashionably late actually) she knew there was no hope for an unnoticed entrance.
Lavender, Ginny, Parvati and Padma hugged their dates (Dean Thomas, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom respectively) and linked arms before walking into the ball. Hermione tried her best to blend in behind them but of course was fairly unsuccessful.
"Hermione, wow. Drown in paint?" Draco snickered as he leaned against the doors to the great hall.
"Ha, ha, Malfoy. Don't bother. I don't have the energy to deal with you." Hermione huffed and crossed her arms. Her head ached and she looked rather tired.
"You weren't saying that last night." Malfoy drawled then laughed and walked into the great hall. Hermione turned red and was about to storm in after him but then she remembered how truly hideous she looked. Instead she hid wandered through the hallway outside of the great hall "looking at paintings" until Ginny forced her inside.
After about half an hour Hermione excused herself and went for a walk in the gardens only to, yet again, run into a little ferret.
"I swear you must be following me. Want some more?" Malfoy laughed from his bench. In his hand was a single white rose he was twirling absentmindedly. He looked slightly angelic but Hermione new better. She rolled her eyes and sat next to him to take off her shoes.
"Malfoy, don't get any ideas. I'm just too sore to care about what you say."
"Next time I'll be gentler." She finally smacked his arm and laughed.
"You are such a prick. New line of defense? Oh Hermione Let me embarrass you with thoughts of bedroom bliss. Good one. Unfortunately we both know there would be no bliss in your bedroom." Malfoy reddened and retaliated with, "At least my bedroom gets some action."
"As if that is all that there is to life. I am sorry that you are so sorely mistaken with the purpose of life."
During all of this wonderful conversation (or verbal duel) a little mouse was hidden in the corner destined to ruin Hermione's night.
Once I returned to the ball, unfortunately still in the presence of a certain blonde monster, the great hall seemed buzzing with excitement. I would later find that it was really gossip flying through the room rather than cheer and love. The clock had just struck midnight and many couples could be seen emerging from the garden or corners slightly flushed and well-kissed. It was now officially Valentine's Day (the ball had been held on the 13th, a Friday) and my night was finally coming towards an end. Or so I thought.
As a group we returned to the 7th year's floor with plans for an after party hatching. I walked behind the group, lost in thought about hair dye spells, romances gone wrong and my past 7 years at Hogwarts, completely oblivious to the whispers.
After the war, Hogwarts changed dramatically. Students are now separated by years on different floors rather than houses. There are still houses and the yearly quidditch cup and house cup but there is a much stronger sense of unity among all of Hogwarts' students. I enjoy having quarters of my own but am glad to have a place to meet with all of my friends, different houses or alike.
On this specific occasion having a 7th year floor meant having the ability to throw Hogwarts' biggest party since Dumbledore's day (It turns out Dumbledore was known as quite a party animal). Harry, Ron and Malfoy raided the kitchen and then snuck a handful of select underclassmen (and women) to the 7th year's dorms to partake in the festivities. Obviously Ginny and Luna were invited but there were also other 6th years and even a few 5th years.
By this point my hair had finally faded back to a good color (still not perfect) and I was fairly relaxed (with no alcohol influence necessary thank you very much) but of course it was merely the calm before the storm.
It had gotten quite late and my best friends (Harry and Ron) had gotten quite drunk when the storm hit. Ron was on one of the main couches in front of the fireplace snogging Parvati practically senseless when he accidentally spilled an entire goblet of ale down the front of my blouse. I had changed into my favorite shirt and some comfy jeans earlier and was very angry to be doused in beer.
"Ron! Ugh you oaf! Watch where you sling your drink! Jeeze, and get a room you too." I was only joking of course but I suppose I let my voice get a little more bitter than plan because Ron instantly replied with, "Oh Shut it Hermione and go snog Malfoy some more. We all know you aren't quite as innocent as you try to appear."
I quickly replied with a punch in the nose and yelled, "What in Merlin's name are you going on about?" My face went red then drained of color. Some one had clearly mis-understood Malfoy's comments earlier in the night.
"Draco Malfoy! I knew your silly little comments would come back to haunt me. You pig! Tell them this instant that we have never had anything of that nature!"
"Hermione, you can't deny it to everyone now. Let's just return to your rooms and leave them to their musings." I shot him a dirty look, punched him in the gut and ran to my room in tears. A truly wonderful ending to a wonderful night, right?
A/N: I tried something new with point of view to make that feeling of an outsider watching Draco and Hermione for the sake of gossip. Let me know if you hate it or love it.
Thanks to felicitousmomento, Luna Moonlight Fawn and iluvhp for reviewing. I haven't had much love sent my way but I hope this chapter will at least bring some hugs! REVIEW!