CHAPTER 14 – Shopping!

heylo, my dear readers! please review! and read! story will be done soon!

Hermione and Draco had rushed out of the wing and went to their Dormitories. Hermione picked up a folded piece of parchment and went down to the common room.

She went up to Draco on the couch and unfolded the parchment. "Okay, so I made this plan a long time ago. We don't need to worry. I've got it all planned out." But as she unfolded it, the paper was blank.

"Okay, so maybe it's not really a plan. We could just… just…" she stopped and collapsed on the couch with Draco. "What are we gonna do?" She stared at Draco.

Draco thought for a moment. Then he said back, "Don't worry. I've got it. Just leave it to me." He stood up and headed for the portrait hole.

"Draco, wait. Can't I help?" she asked standing up.

He turned back and said, "Don't worry. I'll take care of it."

He went up to her and kissed her on the cheek. "Just go out and pick yourself a beautiful dress for the Ball. By Saturday, the Great Hall will look amazing. Just trust me."

She just smiled and kissed him back. "Okay. I'll trust you."

At breakfast, she met Harry and Ron at the Griffindor table. "Good morning."

Ron said nothing. But Harry looked up from the Daily Prophet. "Good morning 'Mione."

She sat down and started to eat and stared at the Slytherin table and searched for Draco. To her disappointment, he wasn't there. Her eyes wandered around their table until Pansy caught her looking at her. She stared at Hermione for a few seconds until she had gone back to her pumpkin juice. Pansy just narrowed her eyes, and had gone suspicious.

"Hermione? Hermione?" Ginny had sat down in front of her and noticed her starring into her juice. She had got out of her trance and looked up at her.

"Huh? Oh. Ginny! Hello!"

"What's the matter, Hermione? Something's in your juice?"

"Ah, no." she had been cut off by Ginny.

"I don't blame you, 'Mione. I noticed that there's been a glitch with the breakfast food for quite some time now. Anyway, you want to come with me to pick out dresses for the Ball later?"

Hermione thought about it and realized she couldn't get a dress going with Harry and Ron. So, she had accepted.

Just after breakfast, Hermione had gone with Ginny to Hogsmeade. Along the way, she had looked around to see where Draco was. She couldn't find him but went along with them to dress shops.

As they were strolling around the shops, Hermione seemed to look around a lot.

"'Mione? Are you alright?"

She looked back to her and said, "Oh, yeah. I'm just fine."

"Okay. Then how do you like this one?" she said holding up a green flowery dress. She noticed her looking outside. "Hermione?"

"What?"

"I said how do you like this dress on me?"

"Oh, it's fine." she said looking outside again.

"'Mione!" she put back the dress, "What's up with you? Who are you looking for?"

"Nobody! I… I just wanted to go to… that store!" she pointed outside.

"What? The Hot Cauldron?"

"Yeah! Yeah, that's it! They say that they have the most amazing dresses and gowns!"

Ginny gave her a suspicious look. "What? You don't believe me?" Hermione said.

"No. I don't."

"Why, I'm just shocked at you, Ginny. I thought you were my friend!"

"I am." Ginny pointed out to the store, "It's just that The Hot Cauldron is a restaurant."

"Oh." Hermione blushed very much.

After that, as they went to shop for the Ball, Hermione confessed about her secret relationship with Draco. But as the story unfolded, Ginny didn't seem to be surprised. She just nodded intently and listened attentively. She never interrupted her very long and detailed story except for times when she or Hermione had found a pretty dress. She would say, "Hey, 'Mione? What about this dress?" or "That looks great on you."

Finally, Hermione and Ginny had found the perfect dresses and accessories for them. The whole time, Hermione just kept talking in detail about how Draco is when he's with her. As they were coming out of the 15th store that they found, Firlash's Gowns and Dresses, Hermione ended her story.

"…so that's why I've been looking all around for. I was looking for Draco. He's disappeared somewhere, mind you."

Ginny just nodded and adjusted the scarf around her neck as it was nearly winter.

Hermione finally noticed her being so silent about this. Not being like her usual Weasley-self. "Gin? Why are you so quiet? I thought if I'd tell you all this, you'd have a million and one comments by now."

"Ah, it's not really like that, 'Mione." she finally spoke, "It's just that, I already know."

Hermione stopped in her tracks and stood there. "Wha—"

"Eh--- Malfloy told me. It's kind of a long story."

Hermione started walking towards the castle again but still lost for words.

"But, don't worry, Hermione. I didn't tell anyone. And I won't. Promise."