Draco Potter?

Chapter 12: Just Like A Fairytale part 1

It was December before they knew it. Ron still wasn't speaking to Hermione. Meanwhile, everything had gotten back to normal between Harry and Hermione. He absolutely hated Draco, but he just accepted it. That's what friends do.

Draco had made at least twice as much enemies in Gryffindor in those two weeks, and even more in Slytherin. Hermione was the only friend he had right now. Some days he wanted to kick himself in the head for giving his entire social life up for Hermione, but then he looked at her and realized that it was worth it. He never actually liked his Slytherin 'friends', but they made him look good. Oh, how shallow he was. Hermione had changed him for the better. Life was perfect.

The Winter Ball was this week. Hermione was going with Draco, of course. She couldn't wait. She was going shopping with Ginny tomorrow. She really needed a new dress. One that would make Draco drool his eyes out. She was actually going to try to look pretty. Like the Yule Ball 2 years ago, only prettier. She was even going to straighten her hair again. Maybe even wear make-up.

But that was tomorrow. Today was just a regular schooldays. Actually there's no such thing as a regular school day in Hogwarts, but close enough. Hermione was having lunch with her friends and Draco. He sits at the Gryffindor table almost everyday now. He's kind of banished from the Slytherin table. And Common Room. Basically everything Slytherinish, except the Quidditch team. But that's just 'cause without him, they'd never win. They win almost every match, except for the ones against Gryffindor.

Hermione and Ginny were happily talking about the ball the next day. Harry and Draco were just sitting there. Then something weird happened. Ron sat down next to Harry. Hermione and Ginny shut up. Ron hadn't come this close to Hermione in forever. He always avoided her, especially in the presence of Draco.

"What?" he asked acknowledging that everyone was staring at him except for Draco.

"Nothing", Harry, Ginny and Hermione said at the same time.

Ginny smacked her forehead "I forgot to make my Charms homework! And I have Charms right after lunch! Could you guys" (she meant Harry and Draco) "please help me? Maybe then I can actually finish it".

Harry started "Wouldn't it be easier if Her-" but Ginny kicked him under the table.

Then Draco started "Why would I--" and saw Ginny looking significantly at Hermione and Ron "Oh. Bye Hermione". The three of them left. Ron glared at Draco.

Hermione looked meaningfully at Ron. "So, how are you?" she asked casually.

"Fine", he replied. It was the first thing he said to her since all those weeks ago. Hermione almost sighed of relief. It was quiet for a while. Ron broke the silence. He looked at Hermione and said "Okay, I really don't want to know what you see in Malfoy and I still hate him, but I've realized that I can't change it no matter how mad I get."

Hermione smiled and hugged him. She was so happy that she forgot to be amazed at how mature Ron suddenly was. "I really don't want to fight", he said when they broke apart "I miss you. Now I have to make all my homework by myself!" Hermione chuckled. "Friends?"

"Friends", Hermione repeated and hugged him again.

Ron and Hermione making up was pretty much the only eventful thing that happened all day. Ok, there was something else. Harry and Ginny actually had a civilized conversation with Draco. What else were they supposed to do after they left Hermione and Ron? After all these years of hate, now it wasn't that unlikely that Harry and Draco would eventually become friends.

The day slowly turned to night, night turned to day again and then it was Saturday. A lot of people were going shopping in Hogsmeade today. Including Hermione and Ginny of course. They left earlier than most. That way they didn't have to hurry or anything. Besides if Hermione was going to make her hair all gorgeous, she was going to need a lot of time. So it was better to finish shopping early.

It was a beautiful day. A perfect blanket of snow lay over everything outside. It wasn't even that cold. Hermione loved snow. When she was little she always went outside when it snowed and had snowfights with all her friends. She kind of missed that.

Hermione and Ginny walked through Hogsmeade. It was so peaceful this early. But not totally empty. They weren't the only ones shopping this early.

"Who're you going with to the ball anyway?" Hermione asked.

"Who do you think?" Ginny simply asked.

"Harry?" Ginny nodded. "I could've known". Hermione smiled. She looked around at the stores they passed. None of them looked really interesting. Ok, they did, but she was only going to buy a dress. And probably some hair stuff and make-up. She did not have time to be all nerdy and buy lots and lots of books today.

They kept walking and gossiping about the ball. Who was going with who, if the Weird Sisters were going to play again etc. As serious as she was, Hermione liked to occasionally gossip about pointless things. It was refreshing.

"Are you serious? Neville found a date?" Hermione asked not really believing it.

"Yeah, this girl from Huff--", Ginny looked over Hermione's shoulder and gasped.

"What?" Hermione turned around and gasped too.

There, in the windowthing was the most gorgeous dress both of them had ever seen. They went closer and almost had their noses pressed up against the window. Hermione knew she had to have that dress. It was exactly what she was looking for. They went inside. Hermione was still staring at the dress.

"Gorgeous, isn't it?" A friendly short plump grey haired witch appeared out of nowhere. She was probably the owner.

"Very", Hermione whispered, her eyes not leaving the dress.

"Want to try it on?" the owner asked.

Hermione violently nodded. The owner got the dress of the mannequin and handed it to Hermione. "The dressing rooms are over there", she pointed.

Hermione hurried to the closest one and put it on. It was a perfect fit. The fabric felt amazing against her skin. She was so going to buy it. Usually she found these kind of dresses to extravagant and stuff for her, but she absolutely had to have this one. So what if everyone was going to stare at her and not believe their eyes?

She got out of the dressing room. Ginny and the owner were waiting anxiously.

Ginny's jaw dropped. "Wow", she managed to say.

The owner smiled. "That dress was made for you".

Hermione looked around and saw a mirror as high as the ceiling next to the dressing rooms. She walked over and looked in it. The dress looked even prettier when she was wearing it. It was this amazing two part dress. The bodice was a deep red corset made of silk. The other part was a full petticoat with an attached ruffled deep red silk overskirt. She looked at the price tag and her smile faded.

"I really can't afford this". Hermione could've cried. She was wearing the most perfect dress ever and couldn't keep it.

"Oh. That. Know what? Because you look so pretty in it, I'll give you a discount. And matching shoes and gloves", the owner said friendly.

"Really?", Hermione smiled again "Wait, no I can't accept that. Can't I pay the rest next month or something? I'll give you my address and everything."

The owner smiled. "You're a very polite girl. If you really want it that way... Okay, deal".

"Yay!" Hermione actually jumped in the air of happiness. The owner smiled wider and turned to Ginny "Don't you need a dress? I bet that one" she pointed to a light blue dress at the other side of the store "will look amazing on you".

Ginny blushed. "I don't have any money right now..."

"Then you can send it to me by owl! You can't show up at the ball in your school uniform, now can you?" the owner said merrily.

"But my family really isn't that rich..." Ginny whispered.

"I have an idea! Why don't you come work here to pay it off? An old woman like me could use some help".

"Maybe.." Ginny hesitated.

"At least try it on", the owner insisted and went to get the dress.

"She won't take no for an answer, will she?" Ginny whispered to Hermione.

"No", Hermione said, twirling around and staring at her dress in the mirror.

The owner returned. "There you go", she smiled.

Ginny took the dress and went in one of the dressing rooms. She got out a few minutes later.

"I knew it would look amazing on you!" the owner exclaimed cheerily.

Ginny smiled insecurely and looked at herself in the mirror. Her dress was light blue with long sleeves, a boatneck, a full skirt and a corset over that.. "It looks like Sleeping Beauty's dress", Hermione smiled.

"Who's Sleeping Beauty?" Ginny asked.

"Someone from a Muggle fairytale", Hermione answered. "I'd buy the dress and take the job if I were you. You look stunning. Harry'll be staring at you all night" she added.

"And Draco at you", Ginny teased. She turned to the owner "I'll take the job".

"Excellent!" she hurried off to get matching shoes.

Half an our later they left the store, both with two really full bags and smiling. "I can't wait to show Draco tonight", Hermione said.

"Can't wait to show Harry mine either", Ginny replied, still not believing her luck.

"That woman was really nice. I can't believe I never saw that store before".

"Me neither. But we did now and that's all that matters."

"Oh crap, I forgot to pay!" Hermione turned around. "How could I forget?"

They walked back, but found nothing. The walked all the way to the end of the street and back, but the store had vanished.

"That's really weird..." Hermione said.

"Yeah... But we still have the dresses!"

Hermione looked around. "And we got them for free. She was like a fairy godmother!"

"A what?"

"Oh nevermind".

Disclaimer: Don't. Own. It.

A/N: SORRY! Really really sorry that it took so long. I had the worst writers block ever. But. Now I wrote 2 chapters :) 'Cause I finally knew what I wanted to write. Thanks for all the reviews. Again. I love everyone that reviews.