Title: Dare You To Move
Author: Mjade
Summary: My third Draco/Mione fic. Hermione Granger is feeling left out by the people she once called friends . . . but her dreams are all about to come true.
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter but the idea of this story, the two Slytherins: Mason Deimos and Don Gears, and the Gryffindor: Lucinda Lucent, are mine.
Rating: PG-13/Romance
Author's Note: I AM SOOOO SORRY! It's been what---more than three months since I've posted a chapter!!! I am absolutely disgusted with myself! It's all my school's fault! The moment it started I found out I had no time to myself whatsoever! You'd think senior year would be more laid back, but it isnt! I was covered with more work than I thought capable and then I was also involved with the production of the high school play. It was strenous work that used up all my free time but it was worth it in the end.
So now that the play is over I hope I'll have more time to update this story! I'm sorry once again, I just hope I didn't lose any of my readers. Don't worry, I never abandon my stories---it just isn't in me to do so. So finally, without any further ado, here's Chapter ten!
A BIG BIG Thank you for everyone's encouraging reviews:
average jane-It made me laugh as well when I read over the part where she blew up at Malfoy! I love Draco when he's confused! I'm glad you think it's interesting, please keep reading!
sassy-diva2004-I'm amazing? Really? My story---smooth? LOL! Thank you so much for your review, it really lifted my mood!
innocentrose, nikki, Angelsparkle006, SwTnDrEaMyPnAy04, and Xia Sarrasri-Thanks for waiting! Here it is! Chapter 10!
crystal369-Yes, Blaise truly is disgusting. I know I'd be happy if Draco threw an unforgivable on him. . .unfortunately, that's too Death Eater-ish and we're trying to prove Draco isn't that type! Sorry if I made you wait long! Keep reviewing!
JenniferJae-Finally! Someone who thinks I'm great at descriptions! LOL! Thanks for your review!
HPLover08-I'm happy you think DYTM is a great story! The reason I didn't make Hermione go to the ball as the most beautiful person is because I want Draco to fall in love with her personality more than her looks. Besides, she already was the most beautiful at the Yule Ball in her fourth year. Draco couldn't even throw an insult at her! Sigh Young love! LOL!
laura-I haven't really changed the characters' personalities? Wow! That's so nice to hear!
Irishsodabread-Um. . .well, I'm glad, you like character emotional torture and that you find teen angst so. . .satisfying but isn't that kind of dark? LOL! Just kidding! Please R/R!
Love is a canvas furnished by nature
and embroidered by imagination . . .
- Voltaire -
The Great Hall was magnificent. There were flamboyant Christmas wreaths at every door for entering or exiting the Great Hall. On the entrance door was a huge apple-berry wreath, with shiny red apples and clusters of deep red berries, brighter red cranberries, pinecones, and holly. Another door had a wreath of mixed pine needles with some frosting, clusters of pinecones, vine twigs, and large laurel leaves.
The walls were full of glittering silver frosting and garlands of more than fifteen feet. Mistletoe was hung up in upturned arches bordering the whole hall. The ceiling was enchanted in a midnight blue revealing a starlit sky. There was a single enormous forest-green Christmas tree, decorated with about every ornament from glass angels to little Santa Clause figures. (a/n: I feel so Christmassy, right now! LOL!)
The four long house tables had disappeared and were replaced by several smaller round ones with Christmas lanterns, able to seat about twelve people. The Head table however still stood, with members of the faculty supervising the Christmas ball.
Professor McGonagall was chatting with Professor Sprout, both in elegant dress robes. Professor McGonagall was portraying Eleanor of Aquitane, the mother of Richard the Lion-heart, and Professor Sprout appeared to be Catherine of Aragon, one of the wives of Henry VIII. Dumbledore sat smiling at his students with that famous twinkle in his eye and his long beard with some parts covered with falling frosting. At his side was Snape, in his robes of black not really portraying anybody but himself, either sulking or glaring at the young couples. Lupin was grinning, wearing dark blue robes, looking much younger than he's ever been with the effectiveness of the new potion.
Justin walked rather sheepishly into the Great Hall with Padma beside him. He tried to avoid the Headmaster's gaze as much as possible since he was still trying to come up with a story to cover Hermione. Man, the things he would do for this girl.
"Justin, are you okay?" Padma asked, seeing the expression on Justin's face.
Justin turned to look at her. Padma was in the traditional 'Cleopatra' costume. She had a golden tiara/headdress around her head with a turquoise-colored cobra protruding out in front. The end strands of her long dark hair were adorned with gold beads and she wore very elaborate earrings. Her neckpiece was turquoise as well, with a violet triangular pattern on the rim and she wore a light green sleeveless dress that clung to her curves. She was positively radiant.
Justin grinned at her. "I'm great. And you look wonderful."
Padma blushed slightly. "So do you, Marc Antony," She told him. "Especially, the new shade of your hair."
"Really?" Justin said. "Well, it was Hermione who cast the spell," Justin said, and suddenly wished he hadn't mentioned that as he saw Padma's eyes scanning the room.
"Speaking of Hermione," she said. "Where is she?"
Think! Think, you idiot! He just had to let it slip out, didn't he.
"Um . . .she decided not to go," Justin answered, feeling stupid.
"Oh," Padma raised an eyebrow. "How come?"
"Well . . .er . . ." Justin started. He miscalculated. He should have known that there are some people who are just as observant as Dumbledore. "Er . . ."
"Should we notify a teacher she's missing---" Padma was immediately cut off.
"She has a stomachache," Justin said rather hastily.
Padma looked at him skeptically. "A stomachache?"
"I reckon she has the flu," Justin said.
"So she has a stomachache and the flu?" Padma inquired, still not quite believing Justin.
"Well, the truth is," Justin said. "She just didn't feel well enough to attend the Christmas Ball."
"Oh, that's too bad," Padma said. "She would have liked to see the results of the ball."
Justin breathed a silent sigh of relief. Padma took the arm Justin offered her. However, just as they were about to step into the dance floor the person, whose gaze Justin was trying to avoid, appeared before them.
"Ah, Miss Patil and Mister Finch-Fletchley," Dumbledore beamed at them.
"Headmaster!" Justin said rather awkwardly.
"Hello, professor," Padma said smiling.
"I see you and Mister Finch-Fletchley came as Marc Antony and Cleopatra. An excellent choice, I must say. And you look absolutely stunning, Miss Patil," Dumbledore said brightly.
"Thank you, Headmaster," Padma said, with her smile widening. Justin stayed silent.
"I am very proud of the conscientious work my Heads have done so far this year," Dumbledore told Justin. "I must commend both you and Miss Granger for doing a marvellous job with managing the Christmas ball."
Justin still said nothing but smiled uneasily and nodded.
"Speaking of which," Dumbledore said. "Have you any idea where Miss Granger is? I haven't seen her with Mister Potter or Mister Weasley."
The question that Justin had feared most tonight had arisen. "Er. . ." He started.
"Oh, Hermione isn't feeling very well," Padma said before Justin could utter a word. "She might have come down with something, so she decided to rest for the night in her dorm. It's probably just a minor case of the flu."
Justin stared at her, astonished. He had a feeling Padma knew that he was trying to cover for Hermione. She didn't even break in her explanation one bit.
Dumbledore nodded. "I see. I do hope she feels better tomorrow," Dumbledore then turned back to Justin. "Do check on her after the ball, Mister Finch-Fletchley."
"Yes, sir," Justin said suddenly smiling. He was happy he finally found his voice. He wanted to thank Padma, but he wasn't sure whether she had thought he was telling the truth and just passed it on to Dumbledore or saw through him all along but backed him up just the same.
"No problem," Padma said smiling knowingly, as if reading Justin's thoughts.
Justin's surprise only lasted for a minute, and then he smiled back at her and led her to the dance floor.
Lucinda stared nervously at Harry and then at the other people who were looking at her. Lucinda was wearing a royal blue velvet cloak that covered her shoulders. Underneath, she had an elaborate ivory gown with long sleeves, which had indigo-colored bands just above her elbow and on her wrist. She had a golden satin sash that created a V at her waist and as her ivory gown swept the floor there was light blue lace trimming at the hem of her dress. She had let her light brown hair loose with a gold braided circlet adorning the top of her head.
She looked dazzling. Every male that entered the Great Hall had to stop and gaze at her before heading to a table or the dance floor. Harry was rather glad at having the most beautiful girl at the ball as his date. But what really made him happy, was that Lucinda, just her, was with him.
"Do I look like Lady Nimüe?" Lucinda asked Harry, as she lifted her gown a bit. Lucinda had come as Nimüe and Harry was a black-haired version of a young Merlin.
"You look lovely," Harry told her as Lucinda blushed and smiled again.
Coming to Hogwarts was probably the best thing Lucinda had ever done. Everyone who stayed at this magical castle seemed so carefree and was constantly in high spirits. And yes: it was contagious, and Lucinda was glad for that fact. It made her forget all about her problems, it was just so nice to be contented once in a while. And then she met Harry. Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived, the famous person she had read about was now Harry Potter, the boy-she-cared-about, and the person that cared about her. She was happy with him, his presence lightened her heart and happiness was not a feeling she had felt in a long time ever since . . .
She focused her attention to the massive entrance doors to get her mind off the memory. The next couple that came in was Justin and Padma. Lucinda smiled when she saw the Head Boy sporting a different hair color and Padma's exquisite costume . . . that was when she noticed someone was missing.
She turned to Harry. "Harry?"
Harry looked at her. "Yeah?"
"Have you seen Hermione at all tonight?" Lucinda asked him.
Harry's facial expression changed as if he had just realized something. "No, as a matter of fact. Didn't she come in with Justin?"
"I saw Justin come in with Padma a moment ago," Lucinda replied.
"Hang on, I'll ask Ron," Harry said, turning to look for Ron.
Ron had on a medieval costume, with a silver vest and a blue cloak, portraying Sir Lancelot. Parvati, standing beside him, came as Lady Guinevere. She had her long hair braided around her head and let some ringlets fall from the back of her neck and in front of her ears. Her gown was very medieval as well: lavender-colored satin gown with bell sleeves that opened up to the inside of the upper arm. At the back of her dress there was crisscrossed cording to support the satin bodice.
"Oi Ron!" Harry called.
Ron looked at him. "What?"
"Have you seen Hermione?" Harry asked.
Ron turned to him and lifted an eyebrow. "Didn't she come in with Justin?"
Harry shrugged his shoulders.
Lucinda sighed. Apparently, she wasn't going to get the accurate answer tonight.
Little wisps of steam emitted from the showerhead and shortly after, streaks of warm water followed. Does anyone ever notice the different sound hot water makes? Hermione thought to herself then realizing what a useless question that was she stepped into the large shower stall and slid the glass door close.
Although only two people shared the Head bathroom, it was huge. The floor was tiled and the walls were of pale peach marble. A life-size replica statue of Aphrodite of Melos with an alabaster base stood near an enormous rectangular bath with Roman pillars situated at every corner. There was a yellow-orange couch near the door with two armchairs opposite. In the middle of that formation, on the floor, was a small fountain on top of a round base filled with water. On the opposite side of the door, a beautifully carved full-length mirror hung on the wall and right next to it was a row of blue cabinets that stored towels. There also was a wooden foldable dressing screen beside the large glass shower at another corner of the bathroom. It may have been smaller than the prefects' bathroom but it was still beautiful.
The warm water streamed down Hermione's body, soothing her, and after a moment she closed her eyes. It had started snowing hard again, clouding the sky, and the somber atmosphere added to Hermione's gloomy mood. She was alone . . .and she felt alone.
When Ron had started going out with Parvati and when Harry had gotten together with Lucinda, Hermione was happy for them. However, the time she could spend with them became even smaller---deteriorating. She longed to just be with her two best friends and have fun like they used to. She missed them . . .and they had forgotten her completely.
Were boys truly so superficial? She had always thought Harry and Ron were beyond that, but now she was not so sure. They had taken her friendship for granted. Just used her as a last resort. What was wrong with her, anyway? True, she was not as petite as Ginny and Lavender, not as curvaceous as Parvati, nor could she match Lucinda's beauty but . . .she had thought there were some people that could look past that exterior. She may have Justin as a friend who didn't care much about appearances, but she still needed Harry and Ron. They were irreplaceable. How about her? Was she replaceable to them? Or had she already been replaced?
She thought she had let a few tears fall from her eyes . . .or was it just the water? Hermione sighed and turned off the shower. She grabbed her towel and as she stepped out she thought of the only place she could go to. Her sanctuary . . .the library.
"Draco, just one dance? Please?" Pansy Parkinson asked her date. She was in a rather voluminous 16th century gown decorated in different shades of green. The dress had a lace partlet with a collar; the bodice was in a light shade of green in a pattern of spades attached to balloon sleeves that had silver stripes, and the tapestry skirt was of green and silver as well. (a/n: the ultimate Slytherin gown, isn't it?)
Draco just looked at her wearily. "Pansy, I'm quite tired," Draco drawled.
"But we haven't been out on the dance floor, yet," Pansy persisted.
"Look, I'm not really in the best mood," Draco said irritably. "Why don't you ask Mason to dance? He's not doing anything at the moment."
Pansy frowned at him. "Fine," she said shortly as she went over to Mason.
Draco sighed exasperatedly. He hated balls ---it reminded him too much of the ones he had back at the Manor. However, Draco felt more relaxed without his father's watchful eyes on his back. All he had to do now was put up a façade so the other seventh year Slytherins, especially the ones who were already initiated into the Circle, wouldn't suspect something out of the ordinary. As if all he needed now was for Lucius to get a message from Zabini stating Draco doing something that he disapproved of. Blaise. How he hated him. Where was that asshole anyway? If he was already taking Perks' virginity---no, he's dancing with her right now. Draco looked at the couple with a sudden unpleasant feeling in his stomach.
Draco knew Blaise wasn't stupid enough to rid her of that on the first day nor would he drug a girl or get her drunk to be able to do it. His tactic was much crueller. He would be the perfect gentleman making the girl believe that he was the only person in the world that would ever love her. Then he'd wait until she was desperately in love with him and tremendously afraid of losing him then he'd do it. He knew that the fear of losing him was enough to keep a girl preoccupied as to not notice the way he mistreated her. Blaise truly was an expert at it. He'd make a girl fall in love with him then he'd start ruining their life. It made it all the more bitter and hurtful for the girl when he'd dump her. He made sure that their self-esteem and self-worth would be destroyed along with humiliation.
Draco realized that his teeth had clenched together unconsciously. He knew Blaise did this for personal satisfaction and his own entertainment. If only he could kill that psychopath.
To calm himself he focused his attention across the room. He smirked. Okay, so maybe the Christmas Ball wasn't like his father's social affairs. For instance, he would not see Potter talking animatedly to that Italian only a few meters away nor would he see Potter's two sidekicks---
Draco blinked. There was Weasley---that was one. The other was . . .
Draco's eyes searched the Great Hall. Twice. Where was Granger?
"Hi mate," a voice said breaking into Draco's line of thought.
Draco looked up and saw his Slytherin friend holding two cups of punch in his hands. "Hey Don," he nodded moodily.
Don noticed this. "You want one?" He asked Draco holding up one cup.
"I guess I could use one," Draco shrugged taking the cup from him.
Don slid into a seat beside him. "You looked a little distant for a moment. Anything the matter?"
"No, I'm all right," Draco assured him, taking a sip of punch. The drink was somewhat sour but satisfying.
Don smirked. "Anything to do with a girl, I presume?"
Draco snorted. "Don't be ridiculous, Gears. Pansy would have my head if I was thinking about another girl at the Ball when she was the one I asked out."
"True. She can be rather scary sometimes," Don agreed. "I thought you didn't like her, though."
"I don't," Draco said. "She annoys the hell out of me."
"Then why ask her in the first place?"
"It's not like I have much of a choice. Who else is there to ask?" Draco pointed out.
"There's always the mystery girl in the library," Don said. Despite their persistent prodding, Draco had still refused to tell Mason, Blaise, and Don who she was.
"Geez. Would you mind letting that go?" Draco said. Like he'd ever ask Granger out.
"You still have yet to give us her name, mate," Don said smiling.
"Forget it. It's not happening," Draco said shaking his head. He took his cup in his hand and started drinking it. Don just shrugged his shoulders as if to say 'If you say so.'
"You seemed rather preoccupied with watching Potter and Lucent a while ago," Don said, running a hand through his dark hair.
Draco scoffed. "Really? And why the hell would that interest me?"
"How should I know? You're the one always saying it's amusing to watch Potter and his friends," Don said as he turned his eyes to where Draco's were moments ago. He paused. "Wait a minute---is it just me or is the 'Golden Trio' missing somebody?"
"So what?" Draco said. "Maybe Granger finally got the brains to figure out what idiots Potter and Weasley are."
"Don't you think it's a bit odd?" Don said, ignoring Draco's last comment. "I mean, where else could Hermione be?"
Draco suddenly choked on his drink. He put his cup on the table, coughing, and stood up abruptly.
"Whoa. Take it easy, Draco," Don said, raising an eyebrow. "Where are you going?"
"I'm just going to walk around for a while," Draco cleared his throat. "It's a bit stifling in here," he said and immediately walked out of the doors before Don had a chance to reply.
It had started snowing hard again. The wind howled against the glass windows of the castle but failed to penetrate them. Since daylight turned to dusk, temperatures had dropped considerably and the atmosphere had become caliginous. Although the walls of Hogwarts manage to keep out the freezing air and the heavy snowfall, it did nothing to lift Draco's mood.
He strolled aimlessly up and down the castle's corridors. He just needed to get out of the Great Hall. Fast. Away from Pansy, away from Blaise, away from Potter, away from Don. . . In most cases, he knew no one would realize it but he had. It was an easy thing to miss, really, but Draco Malfoy was very observant---one of the traits he had inherited from Lucius.
Or maybe I was just hearing things? Draco thought as he strode down yet another passageway. That was strange---no, maybe strange is too light a word for it. What then would he call what had just happened? And why was he making a big deal out of it anyway?
Because I am Slytherin, Draco told himself. And there are things Slytherins don't do. Cunning, determined, resourceful, ambitious. . .those were traits that characterized them and there was no doubt everyone in Slytherin possessed them. Nor were they the friendliest of people, especially to outsiders. Draco realized then that there was something about Don that was slightly different. But in what aspect, he did not know.
It was not so much that Don was more open and sociable with different people or that he rarely joined in when Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, and Mason were publicly insulting Potter. Draco just supposed Don wasn't interested. However, tonight was different. What had surprised Draco was not the fact that he was looking for Hermione, but it was the fact that he had said Hermione.
He turned a corner and now recognized the corridor where his steps took him. Then suddenly a slight movement in the dark caused him to stop in his tracks. For a moment, he saw nothing---but then suddenly something was moving towards him. Draco stared at her face. . .
It was Granger.
I hoped however that you got a good idea of what the characters' costumes look like. I studied Ancient Irish clothing, Medieval fashion, and Victorian clothing last year and it had really interested me. By the way, about Lucinda's past and what's going on with Don. . .all will be revealed in later chapters! So please REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! Just keep reading and reviewing! It will make me extra happy if you do!
- Mjade