Evaluate This!
Chapter 12
Dance till You Die
Hermione had once been a fan of "Hocus Pocus" as a child, and occasionally watched it during the summer holidays. Now as she entered the Great Hall that had been decorated as she'd dictated, she felt a great sense of accomplishment.
Even if the guy at her side was not the perfect Prince she had wished for in her dreams…a close second, but Draco Malfoy would never be the perfect man. Hermione was sure of that. He could charm, yes. He could enthrall, yes. He could make women and girls and old, old grandmothers drool, yes. But that didn't make him perfect—not at all.
For one, he was too pushy…way too touchy feely…and way too intoxicating.
"This is amazing." Draco whispered to Hermione as the band began to play.
Hermione nodded. "Yeah. Took some work…but…" she observed the lightly lit hall, sweeping cascade of crushed velvets in dark and haunting hues, the ghostly laces that hung about the moth eaten Victorian furniture. She had been going for the abandoned castle look. For reasons beyond her, such places had a very poetic, very sad, and extremely romantic feel to them. "Totally worth it."
It was just as she wanted. Soon it would be filled with colors and costumes—filled with dreams. Nodding to Flitwick, the last of the charms were placed, the food appeared, goblets were filled and the music played louder.
"Ready?"
Draco shrugged. "This should be interesting." Strolling to the main doors, Hermione behind him, they nodded to each other, and pulled them open.
Draco led Hermione away from the main thrall soon after the flow of people ebbed down to a trickle. He didn't want to let go of her hand. She looked so perfect tonight. And…Draco smirked with accomplishment…he'd gotten her to kiss him.
"What is this music?"
Hermione grinned. "Just a song off a soundtrack that I like."
I put a spell on you
and now you're mine.
You can't stop the things I do.
I ain't lyin'.
"Soundtrack?" He cocked his head to the side, a curious expression crossing his face.
Hermione shrugged. "Well, it's off a movie."
"Movie?" He tugged on a curl, wrapping her hair around his finger.
"Oh, damn it Malfoy, it's a muggle thing. I wouldn't expect you to understand!" Hermione quickly took in the people in front of her. "Lavender! How nice to see you."
It's been 300 years
right down to the day,
now the witch is back
and there's hell to pay.
I put a spell on you
and now you're mine!
Hello, Salem! My name's Winifred, what's yours?
I put a spell on you
and now you're gone. My whammy fell on you
and it was strong.
She rushed over. "And Neville! How darling. How's it going?"
They were two different beings, Hermione decided. Neville was wearing a nice suit of armor, complete with shield. While, Lavender looked like a red-carpet wannabe. Her dress was beige, almost skin colored, and clung to her body in a very…revealing way. And the heals! Hermione did not envy Lavender's feet and what they would be feeling tomorrow morning.
Draco shook his head as he watched Hermione talk rapidly to her fellow Gryffindors. She couldn't get away so easy. She'd been acting off ever since she'd kissed him.
Slowly he made his way over to them, sliding his arm around Hermione's waist and said in his best Snape impression. "Longbottom."
Clink.
Neville shook from head to toe, paled several degrees, and whimpered, his suite of armor making clinking sounds.
Hermione glared.
"That wasn't funny." She said angrily as she pulled Malfoy away. "What is your problem? What did Neville ever do to you?"
"Don't go running off."
Your wretched little lives
have all been cursed,
'cause of all the witches working
I'm the worst!
I put a spell on you
and now you're mine!
Watch out! Watch out! Watch out! Watch out!
If you don't believe,
you'd better get superstitious.
Ask my sisters!
Hermione would have slapped him. To think he was ordering her around. Like he owned her. But her initial instinct to cause damage to his complexion died as Ms. Danna and her crony approached.
"Ms. Granger, please don't leave Mr. Malfoy's side again. You must be a role model for the other students."
Hermione gritted her teeth.
Draco sneered. 'Told ya so', he mouthed at Hermione.
"Ooh, she's vicious!"
I put a spell on you...
Sisters!
Ah say ento pi alpha mabi upendi
In comma coriyama
Mr. McGale swayed slightly. Hermione stepped forward. "Have you been drinking?"
He began giggling like a little girl…this verified Hermione's assumption.
"So much for being a role model." She muttered as Ms. Danna escorted her counterpart away. She was about to go check out the drinks—possibly those sneaky psychiatrists had slipped something in there—when Malfoy grabbed her arm.
"Uh, uh, uh. You heard what they said. You're not to leave my side."
"Shove off, Malfoy." Hermione made a pathetic attempt to drag him along behind her—failing miserably.
"Where are you going?"
Hermione stopped pulling. "Looks like nowhere." She replied scathingly.
Very true, Draco thought as he wrapped his arm threw hers. "Where would you like to go?"
Hermione felt as if she were back in kindergarten. "I would like to go check out the punch. I think somebody's spiked it."
"Lets go, then."
"Asshole."
"Mudblood."
Hermione shut up as Malfoy maneuvered her through the crowd. She'd kill him later.
"You want something to drink?" Ron sat nervously across from Charlotte. She was tapping her fingers against the rhythm of the music—setting Ron on edge. "Err, that is…if you're thirsty." He stuttered. Charlotte sneered. "Or not. Uh, I guess I'll shut up."
Smiling, Charlotte stopped the rather annoying tapping. "Sure, I'd love a drink."
Ron jumped. "Oh—oh, okay."
"Without the talking."
Ron nodded fast and furiously walked away.
"You are so horrible to my little cousin." Miriam yawned.
"Yeah, well, someone has to keep his heart beating."
"Uh huh—oh my god!" Miriam's face froze in gross amazement.
"What?" Charlotte turned…and deeply regretted doing so. Pansy Parkinson was approaching, poor boy in tow. She was dressed from head to toe in leather…well head to toe was not the most appropriate way to describe it. The outfit would be done more justice by saying it covered her here and there and hardly anywhere.
"Have you seen my fiancé?" Pansy swayed to a stop, flashing the hideous ring on her finger. "I thought I'd surprise him."
"Oh he'd be surprised." Charlotte shook her head.
"He's with Hermione." Miriam pointed. Not wanting to miss what was bound to be the most exciting and entertaining thing to happen all night, she turned her attention to that direction keeping one eye on Pansy.
"Oh! My poor Drakie!" Pansy sped off in the general direction of Draco, Hermione and…the punch bowl—dragging the guy with her along, as if he were no more than an accessory…a dog…a purse—take your pick. It was cruel and inhumane and oh so Pansy.
But she was ready to upgrade.
To a huge Mansion—lots of money—and the perfect accessory…
Draco Malfoy.
I put a spell on you
'cause you're mine
You better stop the things you do
I ain't lyin'
I put a spell on you
Because you're mine
You're mine
And I don't care
If you don't want me
I'm yours right now
You hear me
I put a spell on you
Because you're mine
And I don't care if you don't want me, I'm yours right now…I put a spell on you—because you're mine. Draco smiled and handed Hermione the goblet.
"It's not spiked." With alcohol, Draco added in his mind. He held up his composure…no hint that though it wasn't spiked with alcohol—there may have been one or two other things he'd slipped in there. To loosen up the party, of course.
"Whatever. What did you put in it?" Hermione looked at the bottom of the dark glass. "I'm not stupid Malfoy. You put something in it."
Draco managed his best 'I am an angel smile.' "I'm insulted Granger." He pulled the glass away from her and drank the contents. "You really don't have faith in people."
Hermione eyed him. He didn't drop dead, didn't start doing the cancan or anything embarrassing. She weighed her options. The spell to keep them together—with in five feet of each other—would wear off by about midnight…give or take.
"Okay, sorry…Malfoy."
"Make that Draco and I might consider accepting it."
"Draco!"
"Hey, I didn't tell you to scream it yet. Later though I'll—"
Hermione opened her mouth again, but it was too late. Pansy launched herself with a force never before seen by man—mostly because the target, a man, was usually crushed, killed or in other terms annihilated on impact.
Poor Draco.
"Ouch. You stepped on my toe."
"Sorry." Harry looked down at his feet.
"It's okay." Harry grinned. "Just…" Miriam pulled his head up. "Don't do it again."
"Okay."
They continued their odd little two-step, Harry trying his best to not look at the stunning creature in front of him. She'd proclaimed herself a purple people eater…but Harry wouldn't have minded one bit if a purple people eater came after him—if indeed they looked just like Miriam did.
Her hair was caught up in a messy, sloppy, wind beaten bun, and her face had the same wind whipped blush. He was finding it harder to breath as he tried to not look down as requested, but to not look up—for that was the reason breathing was becoming a chore. Why oh why? Harry moaned…
"You look like you're about to pass out." Miriam giggled slightly, feeling Harry's forehead. "Is it too warm in here for you? Would you like to sit down?"
Harry tried to form words…anything…but in the end, he could only manage a nod. Miriam took his hand, and led him from the dance floor.
"Maybe you just need a bit of air?" She said as set him onto a bench in the gardens.
"Thanks."
"Oh, it's no problem. I actually wanted to get out of there. Every once in a while, I just need a break from people. You know, so that I don't just go on some sort of killing rampage."
Harry scooted away from her comically.
"I was just joking Harry!" Miriam said as she smacked him, sitting down on the spot he'd cleared.
Harry laughed. "Well, I do know what you mean. I think…"
"Yeah." Miriam was looking up at the sky, so Harry leaned his head back.
"The stars are rather bright tonight."
"Yes. They are. It's amazing isn't it?"
"Stars?"
"Just the way we are this itty bitty planet floating in such a large space."
Harry nodded.
"Do you think about there being other people out there?"
"People?"
"Well of course." Miriam laughed. "Don't you know of the parallel universe theorem?"
Oh boy, Harry thought. She was a science-fiction geek. This was going to be a long night.
Ron handed Charlotte her drink and watched her sip it dutifully. He sat down, and tried to find a gleam in his shoes. There wasn't one, he concluded a few seconds later—but…was this bravery he was feeling?
"You want to dance?"
"Huh?"
Ron's ears turned red. Maybe it hadn't been bravery, just a new form of stupidity. "D—da—daance? With me?"
There was a reason she shouldn't, Charlotte thought long and hard what it was—a whole three seconds. She threw up her hands. "Why not. Come on."
Shaking, Ron stood, took her outstretched hand and let her lead him to the spot she wanted.
Charlotte took a moment to look over Ron. He really wasn't that bad, she really didn't understand why she gave him such a hard time.
His red hair was almost a dark cherry under the dim lights, his outfit befit of a lord. It was amazing, she noticed, how sometimes, the couple's outfits matched…
And other times…she glanced at Lavender and that poor Neville lad, the outfits clashed horridly.
Ron's outfit was one of the ones that matched. His dark navy complimented the silver blue of her own gown. She felt like a roman—the dress was different from the first time the spell had been done, as Hermione had told her it would be. But…the silver-blue color had stayed. It was definitely not something she would have chosen under normal circumstances. For starters, it was a dress; secondly, it had a rather deep v-neck. And that was where she felt like a roman. It really was quite toga-like, but regal all the same.
Like she would have accepted anything less.
…Much later…
"Come on!"
"No." Hermione shook her head.
"Yes."
"No."
"Hermione." Draco whined.
"That is not becoming, Malfoy. And no means no."
"Not in my world."
I love you
I love you anyhow
And I don't care
If you don't want me
I'm yours right now
You hear me
I put a spell on you
Because you're mine
A/N: Yet another chapter. Please REVIEW...
