Chapter 33: Bearded Barley

Draco Malfoy checked himself in the mirror and scowled. He couldn't understand, for the life of him, why Hermione was being dressed in a separate room. He'd hoped to pinch a moment, just for the two of them to kiss or at least hug before they faced the masses. But no, ' Hermione needs space !' His mother had snipped at him over breakfast. Since when did his mother call her "Hermione"?

"Hello Bubba," Narcissa entered the room without knocking, classic mother, and padded toward him with a silly grin.

"Oh my fuck, you're high!" He accused, recognising the stupid smile and narrowed eyes.

"I had a nibble to calm my nerves, don't be such a buzz kill." She straightened his tie and looked up at him with a watery smile.

"You're hosting half the ministry in twenty minutes, and you can barely see the whites of your eyes, Cissy!" He grabbed his mother's chin affectionately.

"Oh Pish Posh, son, I haven't hosted a party sober since the '70s, and that was only because we got duped by a botanist." she sighed and leaned up, pressing a sweet kiss against her son's cheek. "I'm very proud of you."

"I've done nothing…."

"You've forged a path for yourself much brighter than I could have imagined for you. After tonight, your place in history changes, Draco." She tried to make him see what she knew to be true.

Hermione was right. His family was far too extra, "We're just telling people that we're going out, mum." Draco tried to temper his mother's expectations.

"She's not a fickle girl Draco, and she's publicly staking her claim," Narcissa beamed. "Maybe she doesn't know our customs, and perhaps she does things a little differently, but she knows what this means. She's a smart girl."

"Yea." He couldn't help the lopsided grin that cracked his face.

"Not tonight, but you'll propose when the time is right for you both," She reached into a hidden pocket and pulled a small box. "And, I know you were looking through the Malfoy vaults but consider this one" She opened it and displayed a ruby set on gold surrounded by pink diamonds. "From the Black family. I know she was very fond of Sirius." Narcissa closed the box and handed it to him. "It was my grandmother's. Keep it as an option to weigh against the others."

Draco took the ring and placed it in his sock drawer with the other seven he'd thus far managed to gather. Like a fancy squirrel. He thought to perhaps give her an engagement ring for every week of the day.

"I knew." Narcissa spoke quietly, "I really knew after she got petrified by the Basilisk." Draco swallowed. "You wrote me about her attack seven times, each letter scathing and insistent that she had only herself to blame, each letter more terrified than the one before." Narcissa breathed through her nose, "I knew, under all your barbed words, that you were scared you'd never see her again. You didn't know why. That much was clear." Narcissa drew her lips together. "I should have paid more attention. I should have put the pieces together… though alls well that ends well, eh?" she breathed and popped her eyebrows up.

She'd lost him at the end. "What are you talking about?"

"I don't know. I'm high." She chuckled and dragged him from the room, "Escort me to the ball, son, and await your princess." Narcissa laughed and tugged him along behind her.

"I'm just going to do it at the start." Hermione sputtered as she stared at her reflection.

"What?" Pansy turned to her with wide eyes.

"I can't…." Hermione struggled for breath as Madame Malkin put the final touches on her dress. "I can't wait for speeches. I'm going to walk in, say hello to people, and then I'm just going to kiss him or something. Get it over and done with."

Pansy grinned. "That's not how it's done."

"Well, it's how I'm shitting doing it. I'm not pissing about for an hour pretending I don't know him so we can keep to a schedule." Hermione frowned as the dressmaker pulled a necklace from its case. Her voice lost none of its terseness as she snipped: "What's that?"

"A gift from Mrs Malfoy." the woman smiled as she draped the gems over Hermione's exposed décolletage. "I sent her some sketches, and she fetched something up from the vaults to compliment the garment."

"I can't wear this." Hermione gasped, a finger reaching up to touch what were clearly big fucking diamonds. "There are countries worth less than this."

"If you don't, it will insult his mother," Pansy snickered and straightened her red gown. "Do I look alluring?"

Hermione nodded in her direction with a broad smile. "You look amazing!"

"Right, I will go warn Jimmy Olsen to get his lens ready from the get-go." Pansy tapped her lip. "If you do it early, it works out for me. I can rush the developments and then be back in time for dancing."

"Thanks for this." Hermione nodded. "Helping me and spending time with the elves last week, you've been a friend, and I appreciate it." Ever the open-hearted, Hermione made a little gesture from her chest to Pansy's.

"Let's go make news then, my friend." Pansy's cat-like smile split across her lips and her stomach clenched with excitement.

"I know your friends think this is all very fast." Malkin fussed with Hermione's hair a little "But I've fitted enough brides to know true love. You've met yours, Miss Granger." The woman took a step back and admired her handy work. "There's an anti-trip charm on the hem, and I rubbed a little liquid luck on the soles of your shoes, so no falling."

"You're going to come to the party?" Hermione asked, grabbing the woman's hands.

"I'll get changed and be right along," Madame Malkin assured the Golden Girl, grateful she'd been sweet when the nervous teenager approached her for a Yule Ballgown all those years ago.

Draco Malfoy hated glad-handing, but bloody well loved Hermione Granger, and so he smiled and shook hands and nodded politely at wizards who'd voted to have him incarcerated. All water under the bridge , he told himself repeatedly as he met insincere eye after insincere eye.

"Look." Narcissa nudged his ribs, and his gaze shot up from the glass of whisky he'd been occupying himself with. To say someone was breathtaking, they had to indeed rob air from your lungs. Hermione Granger pilfered the air from the room. The thronging mass of people crammed into the grand hall fell silent as she descended the stairs. He had the sudden and overwhelming urge to drag her into a field and kiss her beneath some bearded barley for some obscure reason.

"Fuck…" He heard a breathy Ginny Potter from somewhere to his left. Had he not been so hypnotised, he might have laughed at her expletive. His eyes narrowed in on Hermione, on the way she nervously smiled at the onlookers as she carefully walked down to grace them with her presence. The dress pulled at something profound and nostalgic in his core, but it couldn't be. He squinted. "It is." he gasped out loud. He heard the aforementioned Potter-wife chuckle at his realisation. "Granger." he groaned, waves of recognition washing over him. She caught his eye and blushed, giving him a slight raise of her eyebrows to say, 'See what I did for you?'. Draco wished every person out of his home, for an instant alone with her, a moment to hike that dress up and press her against a wall. The devil on his shoulder started whispering all the nooks and crannies he could drag her off to, and much to his dismay, the angel on his other shoulder, seemed to be joining in. 'Go down on her in the hedge maze', the angel suggested, not at all helping Draco's stuttering heart or hardening manhood.

Hermione wanted to head straight for him, to run into his arms like at the end of Dirty Dancing and have him lift her to the ceiling like she were a prized catch. Alas, there was a sea of people between her and him.

"Hello, thank you so much for coming." She grabbed Kingsley's hand and shook it firmly.

"You look stunning," Her former mentor beamed at her as she gave him a sweet kiss on the cheek, a photographer's lamp flashed, and she stepped back.

"It's an absolute triumph." Jennifer Pince, wife of Rory and cousin-in-law to Irma, gushed as she grabbed Hermione's hands in her own.

Draco's leg shook as he impatiently watched her give her precious time to every bloody person in the room, "Calm down, mate, she's headed this way." Harry whispered with a laugh.

"not fast enough." Draco Malfoy growled and watched as his woman embraced Mr and Mrs Weasley.

"You look a picture, dear." Molly gushed as she reached out to gently straighten the diamond necklace. "It was so kind of you to think of Arthur and me when pulling this together." The Weasley matriarch gushed as she clung to Hermione.

"You're my family. I'm never not thinking of you." Hermione assured the woman.

"I think Draco Malfoy will walk over here and carry you off if you don't go to him." Arthur Weasley cackled lightly and nodded toward the blonde man. Hermione shot a look over her shoulder and saw the fire in his eyes as he stared intently at her. "I'm in love with him." Hermione gushed quickly in a hushed voice. Molly let out a little whimper. "I wanted you to know, before… I hope you can…."

"We love you, and if you love him, so do we." Arthur nodded firmly. "Isn't that right, Molly?"

"Of course" She clapped her hand to her chest.

"You're our girl." Molly released Hermione with a sigh and dabbed her nose.

"Well, here goes nothing." Hermione turned from her surrogate parents and the crowd's body to face the blonde man she'd slept beside for a month.

The few people between Draco and Hermione seemed to sense her singular intent, parting instinctively and turning to face in the direction she was headed. Hermione was oblivious to it all. She didn't see Pansy shove Jimmy Olsen to the front of the crowd. Didn't see Narcissa Malfoy clasp her chest and hold her breath. Didn't see the looks shot between Kingsley and Emery as the air shifted. All she saw was him and the way he looked at her.

"Hello Malfoy." she said quietly, as she finally arrived in front of him "miss me?" she asked and tilted her head.

"That's your Yule Ball dress." he breathed. It almost sounded like an accusation.

"Madam Malkin altered it for the occasion. Do you like it?" She asked. Anyone out of earshot watching the young adults talk would think it nothing more than a polite chat between friends. They couldn't hear the heat in his voice or the dare in hers.

"I love it." He stepped toward her, licking his lip and smiling down at her.

"I…" She was going to tell him that she wanted to rip the band-aid off, to kiss him now to make it known to everyone NOW, not after speeches, but he intercepted her with his own words.

"The waiting will kill me, love." He muttered before he ducked and caught her lips in a searing kiss. It wasn't rabid. He knew they were being watched. He managed to restrain his tongue from pushing into her mouth or his paw from wandering to squeeze her arse. She bent lithely into him, his arms wrapped around her waist, her hands came to cup his cheeks as she grinned against his lips. Her eyes flicked open and glued to his. They couldn't hear the world. Only their own heartbeats, "I love you." He whispered, his nose bumping hers, not quiet enough that it went unheard by the people who'd stepped closer. Hermione and Draco didn't hear the gasps or the one broken glass that slipped from the minister's fingers.

"I love you too." She pecked his lower lip once and stepped back a mite, allowing him to still hold her in his arms but enough that she could straighten her spine. Pansy looked delighted, and Hermione mused that it must've been a picture-worthy kiss.

Harry Potter clapped, mainly because the awkward chatter that had filled the hall made him uncomfortable. Ginny and the other Weasleys were quick to join in the applause, and soon it rolled through the crowd. Nobody was quite sure why the sight was so welcome, but it indeed was.

"Cat's out the bag now, my love." Draco chuckled as he ducked his head at well-wishers.

"Cats don't belong in bags, darling." She grinned up at him, and he couldn't stop pecking her lips one more time. The camera bulb flashed again.

"I think Champagne is called for!" Narcissa Malfoy crowed over the crowd. She clapped her hands, and a train of impeccably dressed men with trays filled with champagne arrived. The group chattered loudly as a bit of normality returned to the ball.

Ginny Potter rubbed her fingertips together thoughtfully and stared at the flutes of champagne. "Bill and Fleur have taken James till Monday." She grinned. "I'm getting shit faced." A decision had clearly been made. She grabbed two glasses from a passing server, both for her.

"Then so am I!" Harry copied her, a foolish grin pulling at his lips.

"We should eat as much as we can to line our stomachs, and we'll drink water every hour to drink more booze." She laid their plan of action out plainly. "Then tomorrow, after we've both been sick and had a hangover potion, we're going to fuck in the kitchen!" She promised with an excited little wiggle.

"Can we do it in the living room too?" Harry asked as he slung back his second flute of champagne.

"No, last time your foot got stuck in Hermione's pocket dimension couch fridge, and you nearly got frostbite!" Ginny tsked, "We can try it on the stairs if you like?" She countered with a grin.

"Best weekend ever!" Harry sang, clasping his hand to his ear to hit the high notes.

Ginny shook her head, two glasses in, and he was already sloppy. She loved him so much it was ridiculous.

Hermione didn't hate making speeches, but she did dislike making them at galas. People didn't come to events like these to stand around in high heels and tight suits and listen to a lecture. They wanted their medicine fast, and then they wanted dinner. Hermione knew her audience. She also knew that hands-on learning was far more effective than a speech. She supposed this was her life now, politicking and lobbying in balls and dinner parties. She imagined all the arguments she could make, all the minds she could change and felt her spine straighten. She took a few steps up the large staircase and tapped her glass, the party fell quiet, and she smiled at the guests who'd had an hour to digest some champagne, nibbles and the news that their resident Bad Boy and Good Girl were in love.

Ginny and Harry whooped drunkenly as she cleared her throat. She glanced at them and grinned.

"Wizards and Witches, Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you so much for attending the first of what I hope will be the Annual Liberated Elf Society Winter Ball." She smiled shyly at the attendees. "I really hope that doesn't spell something silly," She heard a rumble of laughter from those who knew her best.

"I'm so encouraged by the turn-out tonight. I wish I could thank you all individually, but there's a lovely dinner waiting to be served, and I can already hear the minister's belly rumbling." She grinned at Kingsley and allowed the crowd a moment of laughter. "I would like to say a few personal thank yous if you'd do me the kindness of your patience." She radiated as she spoke. Draco felt his gut tense with pride as he watched her. "Firstly to Mr and Mrs Pince, who kindly co-signed our invite, you've been so supportive of me since I started this endeavour" there was a round of applause from the gathered onlookers. Narcissa had told her how important it was to thank the Pince family first. Having their names on a Malfoy hosted event would not go unnoticed in broader circles. "Also, Madam Irma Pince, the Hogwarts Librarian, is here. I know what I know today and fight for what I fight for because you were patient enough to help me find the information I needed." Another rupture of applause, especially from Harry, Ginny and George, who all teased Hermione mercilessly for her devoted friendship with the librarian. She shot a smile at the small, almost invisible woman, noting the way her family beamed at her mention with a jolt of joy. "I'd also like to thank our very gracious host Narcissa Malfoy. I don't think half of you know what this woman gets done over a pot of tea and a plate of scones." Narcissa waved her hands modestly but very much enjoyed the warm applause she received. "Before we head to dinner, there are some more guests I think we should welcome." It was time for some fun tasting medicine , Hermione thought and nodded toward the glass doors at the back of the room where a group of Elves were making their entrance.

The Hob-Elves put the humans to shame in their fashion; the ladies wore small but perfect gowns and petite powdered wigs while the gents wore breaches and billowing blouses, bright waistcoats, and yet more powdered wigs. The core four wore their top hats over their own faux-manes. Hermione wondered where they'd procured so many hairpieces without her knowledge.

"Hello, Humans!" Jake waved at the gaping onlookers. Hermione's plan was working. Her kiss might have been spectacular, but a parade of tiny Georgian influenced magical beings greeting a room of wizards like aliens, overshadowed anything she and Draco could offer.

"Woah." Ginny Weasley breathed.

"Hello!" Harry Potter stepped forward, his arm outstretched, and grabbed the lead elf's hand. "I'm Harry." booze and his general good nature guided the boy who lived,

"Ah, Mr Potter, I'm Jake." The elf bowed low.

"Some of the elves will be joining us for dinner. I hope this allows you to see what we're doing here." Hermione called with a grin, observing the shocked faces of their guests. Narcissa Malfoy smirked. There was nothing worse than a dull event.

"Dinner is served!" Narcissa trilled and pointed to the ballroom, which opened on cue, revealing lavishly decorated round tables set for eight. The waiters who delivered the champagne began leading the guests to their designated tables as they applauded Hermione one last time.

"Give me five minutes, please." Draco Malfoy was by her left ear, his fingers digging needily into her hips.

"I'll give you three, no under the dress stuff." She muttered, allowing him to pull her behind the decorative floral arch Narcissa had commissioned for the event.

"Do you know how hard it was for me?" he grinned wolfishly at her "both figuratively and physically, not to ram my tongue into your mouth?" his lips pushed greedily against hers, his tongue darted out and lapped at her lower lip. "and that dress."

"I thought since we missed our chance the first time around, we could get a little Yule Ball do-over" she smoothed her hands down his front "maybe lose some house-points?" she wiggled her brow. "But after I work." She pressed a final kiss to his open mouth and gave his bum a squeeze. "I feel quite bad for using you," she grinned at him, and she clasped his hand as she moved toward the ballroom.

"How have I been used this time?" He smirked. "I have many uses."

"I only kissed you so my elf ball would get front-page coverage." She chortled as she tugged affectionately at his fingers.

"As the king of the elves, I thank you for your dedication and sacrifices to our cause." He laughed, drawing her closer as they made their way to the table, oblivious to the glances and grins being fired their way. "I about had another spontaneous Fuckety-fuck." He whispered into her ear, "When you walked down the stairs." Hermione snorted with laughter at his admission and slapped his chest playfully.

"I have to go do the rounds, smooth over some of the awkwardness with our Elf guests." Hermione pulled him into a hug and pressed her mouth to his ear. "I've put my panties in your pocket. Please, for the love of God, don't pull them out in front of your mother," she whispered quickly.

"You've done what?" He pulled back from her, eyeing her face, to see if she spoke the truth.

"To keep you occupied while I work." She grinned, no longer the woman who blushed at the word panties.

Draco Malfoy shoved his hands into his pockets and smirked when his fingertips met lace. He shot her one last look before turning back to his ' Son of the Host' duties. His fists remained in his pockets for much of the night.

A/N "Why have a ballroom with no balls!" it's Narcissa's first Malfoy Manor Ball since the way back, so we're going to give her two parts. Stay tuned for THE BALL part 2.