Don't Deal With Love

By: Malfoy-Amazing-Bouncing-Ferret

Chapter 10: A Date with the Dragon

"Come." he held his arm out to link with hers. "The guests have arrived. We shan't be late. Father would be in fits of rage."

Hermione quickly checked once more to make sure that there was nothing out of place. Then, linked her arm with his.

As the two walked slowly down the corridors, Draco smiled to himself. 'She's starting to fall for me.' He chuckled aloud.

"What are you laughing at?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, I just can't wait to see the look on Pansy's face when she sees that I have a beautiful woman at my side." he whispered.

Hermione blushed. "Thank you."

Draco stopped Hermione before they turned the corner into the ballroom. "Now, remember to smile, say 'yes', 'no', 'thank you', so on and so forth. If anybody asks you about Potter or the Order, lie about him and tell them that you know nothing of the organization. And remember what father told you about dancing. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Alright, lets go." They turned around the corner and Draco pushed the doors open to reveal the ballroom full of people dancing in the middle of the room.

"Dance with me?" Draco asked, offering his hand to her.

"Of course." Hermione smiled, taking his hand.

They began to waltz around in the crowd, weaving in and out around the couples.

"So, you do not think that our little deal will work?" Draco asked. Hermione didn't say anything. "Are you going to say anything? Or are you just going to stare at me all night?"

Hermione was snapped out of her dream world when Draco stopped talking. "Maybe I should do both."

"So, then, you're not going to answer me?"

"What were you talking about?"

"You know very well what I was talking about."

"Oh. That will never work. You and I both know that."

"You think that it will not work. I, on the other hand, know that it will work. But until then, smile and pretend that you're having a good time."

"Fine!" she hissed. She gave Draco the best smile she had.

From across the room, Pansy watched Draco and Hermione dancing. "Mrs. Malfoy?" Narcissa turned to see Pansy standing in front of her. "Who is that girl that Draco's dancing with?"

Narcissa smiled to herself. "Well, Pansy, that young woman is my late cousin, Sirius Black's daughter. Her name is Hermione Black."

"She's the mudblood, isn't she?" Pansy asked angrily.

"Her adopted parents' names were Granger."

After the song ended, Hermione and Draco decided to take a break from dancing and talk with Narcissa and Lucius.

"Draco!" Pansy cried. "Dance with me!"

"Actually, Pansy, I was going to ask my mother to dance. Mother?" Draco asked, offering her his hand.

Pansy stomped her foot and glared at Hermione before storming off.

"Hermione?" She turned to look at Lucius. "Care for a dance?" he asked.

"Of course not, Lucius." she said, taking his hand.

Together, they danced just as Hermione and Draco had done.

"Tell me, what do you plan to do after you graduate?" Lucius asked, spinning Hermione around.

"Well, I was planning on furthering my education." she said as she and Lucius began dancing at a slower pace.

"Which subject would you like to further your education in?"

"I was thinking potions. That is, of course, my favorite class. I was thinking about asking Professor Snape if he would accept me as his apprentice."

"Now that, Hermione, sounds like a plan. Perhaps you should speak with him now." Lucius suggested as the song ended. "He's right over there. You could perhaps get him to dance, of course, he never does." he said, pointing to a space on the far wall where the fountain of wine was.