Authors Notes: It's your lucky day! I've given you an update xD. Ch. 14 a-go!
'Dirty Work
The Goodwill Charity Ball
Hermione stood, plastered on her spot, trying to comprehend Harry's words.
"I'm... you're my... date?" she asked him, his fingers still clutching onto hers.
With his free hand, Harry scratched the back of his neck shyly. "Well, yeah... Ron told me that you were upset and well... I thought I would cheer you up by taking you." he smiled at her.
"Ron planned this?" she asked, half angry at Ron for not telling her and half surprised at Harry showing up.
"Kind of," he said, with a hint of something else in his voice "I wanted to take you with or without his doing."
"Oh," she said blankly, "that's very sweet of you."
Harry looked uncertain for a moment after hearing her expressionless words. "Oh... if you don't want to go with me..." his happy face quickly changed to a sad, crestfallen one. Immediately, Hermione regretted her tone of voice towards him.
"No, no, no!" she said, now squeezing his hand reassuringly. "I would love too. I mean it. I'm so glad you're here," she said meaningfully, as she took him in for a hug. She hadn't given him much affection since he'd returned, and this felt like a new sort of feeling to Hermione for some reason.
Harry smiled as they pulled away, and took her outside into the hallway. He held out his arm for her to take and she did so, without the slightest hint of wanting to ask his sudden change of attitude towards her. For the last few days he'd been ignoring her, but silently missing her, and now he was her date to the social event of the year? Hermione was confused.
"So how have you been?" she asked him, as they walked along.
"I've been really restless during nights, really... It's been weird, the last few days, though, right?" Harry asked her conversationally as they began walking over to the lift that would take them to the ground floor.
"Yes, they have. I didn't really get the chance to explain to you what had been going on while you were gone," Hermione said, looking down at the ground. "I wanted to talk to you about it but you haven't been the most available person these days."
"I tried occupying myself with interviews and things," Harry admitted, as they slowly made there way down now that they were inside the lift, "I didn't want to think about you and everything that's been going on."
"We had to talk though," Hermione pressed on.
"I know. And that's what we're doing now," he said while smiling at her. She grinned. "It's been my own personal Hell making myself ignore you when I could have spoken to you anytime I wanted. I was hoping maybe I would just snap out of it like I'm doing right now."
Hermione didn't know how to answer. "Are you saying you missed me?" she tried to say playfully.
"Of course I did," he said, as he opened the lift for her to get out. They both began walking to the exit. "But our situation, I didn't miss at all." he tried to laugh for a minute, but it quickly died, and then he shrugged slightly.
"Ron told me about your fight," she said when the silence was getting increasingly uncomfortable.
"Yeah... that was a big mistake," Harry admitted while biting his lip. "Are you mad about it?"
"I was at first... but it's over and done with."
"I'm glad. I was drunk and thinking like a maniac that night. I'm just lucky no one was seriously injured."
There was a deafening silence that followed after Harry had said that, and none of the two made an effort to ease the moment. Hermione was half wondering if he was talking about Draco, and how he was happy that he didn't get hurt. If Draco had gotten hurt over her, she would not have been able to bear it. Draco mattered to her, and if Harry had accepted him, this would lighten her mood so much that she might actually have a good time at the ball.
"Harry," Hermione said quietly, knowing that she couldn't avoid the topic of Draco much longer, "I just want to say that everything between me and Draco - it was - "
"Hermione," Harry said softly, as he halted to a stop. He picked up her closed hand, and brought it to his lips. He kissed it lightly, and continued to hold it as he began to speak again, "please, let's not spoil the night by talking about it, okay?"
Hermione looked at him for a second with pleading eyes, hoping that he would let her talk, but his own begging eyes never faltered and she sighed. "Alright. Let's get going then." And then they continued to walk together, arm in arm once more, taking the precious time they had together.
"Good. Because I want everything to be perfect."
Hermione raised an amused eyebrow. "Want what to be perfect?"
Harry twinkled his eyes in the night sky, and unexpectedly, he pulled her in for a kiss, which lasted for either a minute or an hour. Hermione couldn't tell, because as soon as she was lost in the kiss, Harry had apparated them both outside the doors of the Charity Ball in the ebony night. A night which would either prove to be a good or bad thing for Hermione, for the night had many things in store.
xxxxxx
The two pulled away slowly after kissing, letting the wind blow their hair all around. It was getting quite cold, so Hermione pulled herself closer into Harry. He smiled, and wrapped an arm around her, and led her into the large hallway.
"Ticket or donation please," said the man at the door, who stood behind a small desk. He was wearing a blue suit with white gloves, and held a box with a slip to put wizard money in, and a jar for the tickets. There was a book beside him that Hermione saw was filled with names.
"I'll donate," Harry offered, as he took his hand from Hermione's. He pulled out twenty golden galleons and slipped them inside the box.
"Thank you," said the wizard behind the desk. He began recording Harry's name and donation. Quickly, he ripped it out, and handed it over to him, making sure he had a copy.
"And you, Miss Granger?" he asked, pointing at her sack of money.
"I'd like to donate," and quickly she pulled out twenty galleons, and like Harry, slipped them inside the box. The man did the same thing again and ripped Hermione her donation receipt and smiled at them both.
"The number on that slip will change with every donation you make throughout the night. When donation time is up, please hand it in to the man who will collect it. This will determine whether or not you are elligible for the grand prize."
Harry and Hermione nodded and walked through the door that was shut with tightly before them. They could hear the noise and music erupting from it, so Hermione was not surprised she was attacked by blasting noises when Harry had opened it for her.
The band was already singing loudly and many people were on the dance floor. People were also sitting on the tables that she and Draco had picked out and were waiting patiently for dinner to be served, while talking with their friends.
Harry took Hermione over to a centre table. These were probably the best in the house, and Hermione saw that there was a card before each plate. It had her name, and Harry's of course. She had forgotten he was the guest of honour, and that he was treated the night. There was room for more people to be seated, and as she flipped the cards over, Hermione found out that Ron, Parvati, Ginny, and two extra seats were available.
Harry pulled out Hermione's chair and waited for her to be seated. After she did so, he took his own, and looked over to the band on the stage happily.
"Did you pick this band?" Harry asked, using his chin to point.
"Yes, Draco and I." she corrected. Harry went tight lipped for a moment after hearing Draco's name, but then quickly replaced it with a smile. "They're the called the Silver Serums."
"I know," Harry said, over the noise. Hermione looked at him curiously.
"How?" she asked, trying to be conversational.
"I spoke to them."
Hermione nodded, not even wondering at all why he spoke to them. She filled her champage glass with water using her wand, and drank it up, waiting for the arrival of Ron, Parvati, Ginny and her date. She and Harry continued to make small talk, until they came over together.
"Hey you two," said Ron with a wink. Parvati walked over and gave Hermione a hug, and Ginny took out her seat, while Dean walked over to Harry, shaking his hand.
"You made it," Harry said to them all, as they looked for the right card on their plates.
"Of course. We wouldn't miss this for the world." Parvati answered, looking down at the menu that was on the centre of the table. "So the first meal is at 6:30?" she asked.
"Yes," said Hermione, taking another swig of her water, "But after the introduction, which should come shortly."
They all nodded and began to talk amongst each other, especially to Harry, since they haven't spoken or seen to him in a while. Hermione tried to make herself happy with her friends, but she felt a little out of place, but not knowing why. She looked all around the ballroom, and saw with great happiness for some reason, the Parfum Blumes she had purchased with Draco in full bloom, showing off their wonderful blue colour.
"Hermione? Did you hear me?"
"Oh, what?" Hermione said, coming out of her reverie. "Did you say something Ginny?"
She smiled. "Yes. I said the introduction is starting. Look." She pointed to the top of the stage where the band had stopped playing and Draco was ascending the stairs up to it. Everyone had taken their rightful seats at their tables and was quiet.
Hermione eyed Draco more carefully, and saw that he was wearing a white tuxedo, unlike most of the men in the ballroom who were wearing a black one. He had a black bow tie on, which made him look very class and sophisticated.
"He looks handsome, doesn't he?" Ginny whispered in Hermione's ear, as Hermione stared.
"...Yes. Very handsome," Hermione answered, not really paying attention.
She saw Draco point his wand to his throat, and mutter something. Soon after, his voice began to boom all around the ballroom.
"Welcome, fellow Wizards and Witches," Draco said to them all, nodding to each part of the room. "I would like to thank you all for making it to this wonderful Charity Ball, in which my workers and I have prepared and worked very hard for." He straightened his bow tie, and continued.
"During the course of the night, you will be given wonderfully made food and tasteful drinks for your comfort. In return, we hope that you will donate so that we may rebuild or society. The top-most donator will be given the grand prize of an all expenses-paid vacation for two to the wonderful city of Paris for two weeks." Draco, for a moment, seemed strained, and looked like he did not want to continue. But she saw him straighten up once more, and heard him clear his throat.
"And also, I would like to welcome," he sighed, though barely audibly, "Harry Potter, who recently returned from hiding, and is now seated inside this ballroom today. He is our guest of honour. Please everyone, a round of applause."
Hermione looked around to Harry who was trying very hard to smile. He stood up slightly from his seat and waved to everyone who was clapping for him. After a minute or so, the clapping died down, and Draco continued after Harry resumed his seat.
"Yes, again, welcome, Harry Potter," he chose to be nice when he said that, Hermione thought, "And to everybody else, this is going to be a spectacular night. Please, enjoy it, and don't forget, donate for the grand prize!"
He ended on a happy note, but Hermione could see that he looked a little unhappy. Everyone clapped as he got off the stage and the band began getting ready with their instruments once more. Shortly after Draco's welcoming speech, the food appeared out of nowhere on their plates, and everyone was digging in, enjoying the night ahead.
"So how much did you donate?" Ron asked everybody, as they all were eating. "Parvati and I donated about fourteen galleons. We'll donate more later tonight."
There were a round of numbers yelled from the group and Hermione could only make out "10 galleons, 5 sickles and 1 knut," from Dean, who said his last.
"Actually, I think I'll donate some more right now," Hermione said, as she stood up from her seat.
"But you haven't even touched your food." Harry commented, looking down at her plate.
"I will when I get back," she said, feeling the need to get away from the group.
Quickly, she walked away from them, not willing to hear anymore words of protest. She had no idea why, but she didn't feel like being with them all. She felt like talking to Draco and sorting things out with him, but again, she felt like being with Harry and just having him all to herself.
Hermione wasn't going to the donation table, but she saw that some of them, including Harry, were watching her go. She walked straight up to the line that lead to the donation table, and waited, while waving at them and smiling. She took out her bag, getting ready as the next person was her.
"Goodevening," she heard a manly voice say behind her. She froze, and turned around to face him.
"Hello, Draco." she greeted numbly.
"Are you in line to donate?" he asked her, sounding oddly comfortable talking with her.
"Of course. Why else would I be in line?" Hermione asked, not wanting that to come off as cold.
"Sorry. I was just wondering."
Silence greeted them as they waited with the person in line to finish with his donation. Hermione looked 'round to her table to find Harry with his back turned. Good, she thought. Maybe then he wouldn't see them talking. Taking a chance, Hermione turned to Draco who was looking away from her.
"How are you?" she asked him, really wanting to know.
"I've been better," he answered, slightly shrugging. "It's been hard planning the rest of the ball by myself."
"I'm sorry," Hermione told him, "I already told you why I had to take some time off."
"I know, and I understand," he told her, as he continued to look away.
"So... are you okay with - ? "
"Are you here with Potter?" he asked, a bit sharply.
Hermione found that he was looking over to her centre table, watching him talk animatedly with Ron, and Parvati and Ginny submerged in their own conversation with Dean. They all looked like they were having a good time. The only thing that was missing was Hermione, who was with Draco.
The next person in line had finished, and Hermione walked up to the table, taking a few gold galleons out of her bag. She pretended to be distracted by counting how much she was going to give, and only half-nodded at the man who was monitoring the table.
"Are you?" he asked again. This time, Herimone felt his eyes on her.
"Yes." she answered tersely, pretending to examine a sickle.
He was silent for a moment, and Hermione felt him shuffle behind her. She began counting her money quicklier, now wanting to get away. The only sound coming from her was the clinking of her change. She put something like five galleons and a few sickles and knuts into the box, and saw her donation receipt change numbers. She took a step aside from the table, and looked at Draco, who was now counting his own money.
"Why did you fight with him?" she asked suddenly, not knowing why she would suddenly ask.
Draco stopped counting his money for a moment and looked to her from the side. He then began counting once more and turned away from her. "I was angry. So was he. End of story," he said lightly, as he put the money inside the box.
"You shouldn't have touched him," Hermione said scoldingly.
"And he shouldn't have provoked me."
Hermione shut her mouth immediately, and instead of answering, focused her attention on his donation receipt. She saw the numbers change, and let out a small gasp, as she saw the amount of his donation so far.
"You've already donated five hundred galleons?" she asked, awed.
"I donated fifty right now. I'll donate more later tonight," he said, though not really caring.
Hermione, irritated by his tone of voice, sighed exasperatedly. "What do you want from me, Draco?"
He shifted his stance and looked her in the eye. "I only want the truth," he told her simply. Hermione crooked an eyebrow and gave him an annoying look. Had she not already given him a truth?
"I told you!" she said, trying very hard not to yell. "I don't know - "
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Draco interrupted, almost carelessly. "You don't know where you are right now. That's bullocks. If you ask me, you know exactly who you want to be with, but you're not letting yourself know. And why? Because you want the both of us Hermione."
She stared at him angrily, and suppressed a shriek. "And you want me to pick? Even if it might hurt one of you?" she bellowed quietly. There was no need though. The music was loud enough, and the man at the donation table was counting up the donations so far.
"Yes. Because I still have feelings for you, Hermione. And I know you have feelings for me too." Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but Draco stopped her. "And I also know you have strong feelings for Potter, but you can't have us both. You just can't."
Hermione continued to stare at him with narrowed eyes. Her sight was a bit blurry, and she didn't know if it was because her eyes were basically slits or because they were watery from holding back frustrated tears. But then she felt an arm slip around her waist, and she looked up in surprise, to see Harry's emerald green eyes boring into Draco's sky blue ones.
"Are we having a problem?" he asked to Draco particularily, who did not look like he wanted to be talking to Harry at the moment.
"No, we're not." he said simply, as he stared at Hermione.
"Well, I guess we should get going then. Congratulations with the ball, Malfoy," he said, as he took Hermione away from the table without waiting for a response.
Hermione looked up at him as he held her waist protectively and kissed his cheek thankfully. Surprised, Harry looked down at her, as her eyes were blinking furiously, still trying to suppress her tears. Instinctively, she turned around, and saw Draco still standing there, expressionless.
"What was that for?" Harry asked happily.
"Oh nothing," Hermione said, trying to hide her frustration.
"Was he bothering you?" he asked, concerned.
"No, no," Hermione told him, "we just happened to both be in line together. We were just talking." Harry nodded once, and brought her back to the table. No one had noticed there return, and continued to talk amongst each other.
Hermione, in her sleevless lavender gown, felt a little cold, as some windows were open, and put her arms around herself.
"Cold?" Harry asked, taking off his jacket slightly. Hermione nodded, but half-way through, he stopped. He concsiously looked down and then looked up, and smiled at Hermione. "Why don't we just put a warming charm on you?"
Hermione, not caring how he made her warm, nodded quickly. Harry muttered a spell to make her instantly feel like there was a fire in the room. She smiled at him, and began digging into her food. It was hard to digest though, because deep down in the pit of her stomach, Hermione couldn't help but feel an impending trouble coming closer and closer.
xxxxxx
In the middle of the dance floor, Hermione and Parvati were dancing together, while watching the boys talk together, and Ginny still eating her food. They grooved along with the music that the band was playing and spoke to each other, which was mostly filled with Hermione talking about Draco and Harry.
"Harry is clueless. He doesn't know that I have to pick," Hermione said nervously, as she saw Harry laughing along with Dean and Ron. "And Draco admitted he had feelings for me still. I don't know what to do." she said, looking to Parvati for help.
"The only thing you can do is think about which one makes you happier, and then pick." Parvati said, emphasizing the word 'pick.'
"But they both make me happy!" she said, throwing her arms up. "Harry is so forgiving, and comforting. I'm such a fool around him because I don't know what to do." Parvati nodded sympathetically. "And Draco... he adds something different to my life. I'm a whole different person with him." She looked over to Draco, who was talking with an elderly wizard in the corner.
"I know this is tough Hermione, but it's got to happen."
"Tonight?" Hermione asked uncertainly.
"Maybe; maybe not. But I'd be prepared if I were you. I think something's bound to happen."
Hermione looked around nervously, as if something were about to jump out and scare her. She bit her lip and slowed down her movement, as the Silver Serum's began to play a soft tune that she didn't know. Parvati excused herself and found Ron, who stood up willingly to dance with her. Everyone was now finding a partner to dance with, and Hermione was left to watch them arm in arm.
Hermione felt a soft tap on her shoulder and turned around, hoping to see Harry. Instead a pair of blue eyes met her gaze, and she almost gasped as he stood there holding a hand out, knowing fully-well that she had a date.
"Dance with me?" Draco asked her.
Hermione looked around. "What are you doing? Harry might see..."
"That doesn't matter." he said while stretching out his arm. "It matters if you want too." Hermione bit her lip. "So, would you like to dance with me?" Draco repeated.
"Enough Draco, Harry will get so - "
"Hello, Hermione," she heard behind her. It was a soft voice. She turned around, only to face the emerald green ones that took her breath away. Instantly, she froze in her spot.
"H-Harry... Hi," she said lamely, now directly in the middle of them.
"What's going on...?" he asked her, as he craned his neck towards Draco, who pulled his arm back a little.
"I was just... we were just..." Hermione stumbled on her words as if they were bumpy rocks and looked around frantically for some kind of distraction. She saw Parvati, who's arms were around Ron's neck, but looking at her with alarmed eyes. Hermione shrugged slightly, hoping to show Parvati that she didn't know what to do.
"I just wanted to ask you to dance, if that's okay," Harry said, but still eyeing Draco suspiciously. "Unless your busy?" he told her uncertainly.
"She kind of is, yeah," Draco said from Hermione's other side, trying not to sound irritated. Hermione turned around sharply to face him, and almost had to restrain herself from slapping him.
"Go. Away." she whispered furiously in Draco's direction. He took no notice of it, and continued to stand there.
"Busy with what?" Harry asked.
"Well," Draco continued, not even minding Hermione's threatening glare, "I had asked her to dance with me for this song, and she hasn't answered. Obviously, she still doesn't know."
Hermione's eyebrows connected in anger towards Draco, really wanting to choke him at the moment. She turned around to look at Harry, her expression changing wholly into an apologetic one. Draco almost sighed angrily at her change.
"He asked you to dance too?" Harry asked, bewildered.
"Well, yes, he has, but - "
"And so did I." Harry stated.
"Yes, you did, but - "
"Well then, who would you like to dance with?" Harry asked, very intent on finding out who for some reason. Hermione, surprised by this sudden question, looked from Draco to Harry. Harry looked almost hurt, and Draco looked so determined. She bit her lip, and frantically thought of a way to get out of it.
"I... well..."
"Hermione!" She heard someone say from afar. Quickly, she turned around to face Parvati, who was smiling like a fool. She was obviously intervening. "Having a good time?" she saked.
Hermione sighed in relief. "Yes, I am."
"How are you two boys?" Parvati asked, while Ron stood beside her. He was clueless to the situation.
"Fine," both men answered at the same time. They looked at each other sharply, and almost had a staring contest, but Hermione knew what to do.
"Well, thanks for coming over Parvati," she said, while coming up to her, "I can handle this," she whispered to her friend, while Harry and Draco continued to glare. Parvati nodded, and looked from both men to Hermione, and took Ron by the hand, who continued to be oblivious about what was going on.
"Um, Draco?" Hermione said unsurely. She tapped him on the shoulder and took his arm. Harry looked away, and stared at Hermione in confusion.
"What are you doing, Hermione?"
"I just... I want to talk to Draco for a moment."
Draco looked to her in surprise, and almost forgot how to talk. He nodded at her, and didn't even give Harry a second glance. Harry continued to stare at Hermione as if he were just insulted, and backed away over to their table, slouching just a little. Hermione felt like the meanest person in the world.
"Seen the light have you?" Draco asked her, as he took her hand. Hermione pulled it away.
"I need you to stop," Hermione snapped, whispering angrily. "Stop pushing for me to pick between you two, I already know that I have to."
"And what did Potter just do over there? He told you to pick which one of us you wanted to dance with!" Draco countered.
"That was different!"
"How, exactly?"
Hermione stood rooted to her spot, scowling at the man before her. She breathed heavily for a moment, and stared him in the eye. Her mind was working frantically now for some reason. And it was almost like she knew what to do.
"Listen to me. I won't deny that I have feelings for you still. I do. But I have feelings for Harry too, alright? I have to make a decision, so stop pushing for it, because it will come when it comes. If not soon, then later. Until then, leave me be. I'll talk to you when I want."
With that, Hermione stomped away, leaving Draco in an state of half anger and surprise. If she still had feelings for him, she had some way of showing it.
Hermione made her way back to the centre table, where Harry sat alone, using an umbrella straw to stir his drink. He was still slouching, and looked a little sad, and immediately, Hermione went to his comfort. She took a seat beside him, and smiled.
"I thought you would be off with Malfoy right now," he said sullenly, clutching his jacket pocket tightly.
"I just had to speak with him. Are you alright?" Hermione asked.
"Well, seeing that my date is obviously torn between two men isn't making me feel any good. Especially since I'm one of the two."
"Are you angry with me?" she asked.
He looked at her, almost surprised. "Why would I be angry with you?"
Hermione looked around uncertainly. "I just thought... maybe I had ruined the night for you."
"No," he said tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Never."
"Good." she said, "then how about we eat dinner together and have a good time?"
Harry smiled meekly, and picked up his fork. "Sure thing."
Hermione kissed him lightly on the cheek, and he blushed, before digging into his food. Draco watched from afar, clutching tightly to his money bag, as they began to talk animatedly. He looked at the money he had left, and narrowed his eyes. This wasn't like him anymore, to get angry the way he was right now. But he was, and the only thing that eased his fury was in his own way, donating. Because he had a plan.
xxxxxx
"Donation receipt please," said a man, who was collecting them around the tables. Hermione dropped hers in, with a final total of fifty six galleons, twenty three sickles and ten knuts. Harry did the same with his donation, and the rest of the people at the table.
"I'm not gonna win," said Ron sadly, after he dropped his receipt. "I only donated about ten more galleons after my first."
"It's okay, Ron." Parvati said, brushing his hair with her fingers.
"But I was really hoping for that trip for two to Paris."
"I won't win either," Hermione said, not even really sad. "I'm just glad everyones donated. It seems very successful."
"I think I've got a chance of winning," Harry said while smiling around to the group. "That trip for two to Paris should come in handy later."
Hermione chuckled, not knowing what he meant, but laughed along with Ron, who was smiling broadly. Harry put an arm around her and she held his hand, very happy. She turned around to see the men, emptying the receipts, and counting up the total amount of donation.
One wizard held up one receipt, and looked at it with wide eyes. He handed it over to another man, who read it, and smiled. He handed it over to the lead singer of the Silver Serums, who took it, and stood at the centre of the stage, and muttered a spell.
"Donation time is now up," he announced, "and we have got a winner for our Grand Prize."
Everybody clapped and cheered, as he unrolled the receipt he held in his hands. With wide eyes, he looked to the crowd and smiled widely.
"The winner, with a donation of one thousand, four hundred and fifty galleons, our very own Draco Malfoy!"
Everyone except Hermione and Harry clapped when they heard the name. Harry looked a little crestafallen when his name was not called, but smiled at Hermione, and mouthed the words 'Oh well,' while shrugging. Hermione nodded and went rigid for some reason, thinking that Draco had something up his sleeve.
Draco went up to the stage and bowed, taking the two tickets to Paris from the lead singer of the band and holding them up. Everyone cheered once more, and he smiled. He looked to Hermione particularily, and she put her head down, unaware that he had got off stage and everyone was back to dinner.
"I think I need some fresh air," Hermione told the table, as she stood up.
"Will you be back?" asked Harry, sounding a little alarmed.
"Of course," she chuckled.
"Be quick!" Harry yelled to her back, as she retreated out the door and into the empty hallway. She took a deep breath, as if she were down under water for the entire night, and sighed. She felt like Draco was looking for her, and she didn't want to deal with him at the moment.
"Didn't think you could get away that easily did you?" she heard someone chuckle lightly.
"What are you doing here, Draco?" she asked irritatedly, without having to turn around.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry," he said, really meaning it. "I've been a real ass the last few days."
"Yeah, you have." Hermione said, looking at him this time. "What do you want?"
"Can't I just talk to you?"
"Well, I'm about to go inside, so talk quickly," she snapped, moving closer to the door.
"Okay, okay," Draco said, holding up his hands. One of them held the tickets. "I know things have been rough, and that you're head is working over time right now, but I want you to know something. You mean a lot to me. You showed me something I haven't felt before, and I can understand why Potter just can't let you go."
Hermione blushed slightly, and looked down. "And I just want to ask you, just in case I have any chance at all to be with you..." he continued, slowing down this time. "Will you come with me to Paris? Take this trip with me and leave behind your troubles? Because I would show you what you mean to me... really. I love you, Hermione, honestly."
Hermione looked up sharply, and tried very hard to hide her surprise. She looked around the hallway, to see if anyone had heard, but no one was there. There was no way she could get herself out of this one. She had to answer him.
"Oh my goodness, Draco," she said almost breathlessly, as he softened his look. "I can't believe you would ask me..."
He smiled warmly at her. "So what do you say, Hermione Jane Granger? Will you come with me on this trip?"
She breathed heavily for a moment, having no idea how to answer, and ordered her mind to work faster. There was an answer somewhere in there, and she had no clue how to find it. Instead, she looked up, ran up to him, and hugged him, holding him tightly around the neck.
Draco staggered a little at her surprise hug attack, but held her anyways, smiling. "Is that a yes..?" he asked uncertainly.
Hermione pulled away, and straightened herself up. "Draco... I - "
"Hey, Hermione!" she heard someone call for the umpteenth time.
"Yes, Ron?" she said, turning around irritatingly. "Can I help you?"
Ron looked from Hermione to Draco, and the tickets in his hands. He had wide eyes for a moment, realizing what may have happened, but quickly erased it from his face, replacing it with a little worry. "Um... come back inside will you? Harry wants to see you."
"I - uh - now?" she asked him.
"Yeah, now." Ron said very worriedly.
"Oh, alright," she said, without turning around to look at Draco apologetically. She left him there to see Harry, and she did not leave him too happy. She left him with an unanswered question, and a sad face. He followed her inside, taking his seperate way in the corner of the ballroom.
Once inside the ballroom, she searched the crowd for Harry, since she could not see him at the table. "Where is he, Ron?" she asked.
"Oh, I must have lost him... um, take a seat will you?" he said uncertainly.
"What's going on?" Hermione said, as Ron pulled out her seat. "Where's Harry?"
"Um... well, you see... oh, look, there he is!" Ron said, pointing in the direction of the stage.
Hermione looked 'round to her surprise, and saw that Harry was on the stage, talking to the lead singer of the band. She looked at Ron questioningly, but he only shrugged slightly, not wanting to explain. He half smiled, but Hermione could still see his worried face.
"What is he doing up th - ? "
"Ladies and gentlemen, witches and wizards," said the lead singer of the band out of no where, in the middle of Hermione's questioning. "I have a young man here, who you all probably know as Harry Potter." the crowd cheered and whooped for a moment, "He wants to take the stage for a bit folks, so if you would be so kind, please, eyes and ears over here."
Everyone in the room turned their faces towards Harry, who had walked up slowly to the stage and muttered the spell to make his voice louder. He cleared his throat and stared throughout the crowd with a very determined look.
"Hello, everyone," he said, and the crowd buzzed with a 'hello.' "As you all probably know, I have just returned from hiding and I have been given the title as your guest of honour tonight." Everyone cheered. Hermione only stared.
"Well, as your guest of honour, I would like to say something. While I was in hiding, I had to leave lots of things behind... my family, my friends... even my fiance, Hermione Granger," everyone turned to her momentarily, and she smiled weakly.
"We were meant to be wed, as soon as the war was over, as you know, but things had changed... and right now, I want to get back on track, and continue what I had promised her. Hermione, could you please come up to the stage?"
Everyone sat in awe, half-knowing what he was about to do. Hermione numbly got up from her seat, and weaved her way through the tables step by step, till she found the stairs to the stage, and went up slowly, half wondering if Harry was going to do what she thought he was going to do.
"Harry, what's going on?" she whispered to him, as she went up to him. Harry only nodded and smiled, and gave her a hug.
"Tonight, is a very special night, I hope. It is one that will most possibly change my future and make it a much more happier one." To Hermione's great surprise, Harry pulled something out of his jacket pocket. It was a red leather box that he held right up to his face. He knelt down on one knee, and everyone in the room seemed to gasp. Even Hermione did.
"Oh my goodness..." she said, her hand clutching her chest, as it heaved up and down. "Are you...?"
"Hermione Jane Granger, the love of my life, and the only woman for me," he announced to the crowd, that was practically drooling, "Please, do the me the greatest honour and say that you will marry me. Walk the altar and say 'I do,' with me. Share a great and happy future. Hermione, please; will you marry me?"
Hermione stood rooted to her spot, staring at the box that Harry had just opened. A tiny crystal was inside, attached to a golden band. It was breath taking. She looked at Harry, who was smiling, and the crowd, who was eagerly anticipating an answer from her. Ron was still looking worried, and Ginny and Parvati were squealing.
Draco looked like the saddest man in the world.
He looked so hurt. Something like an injured man who couldn't get up. Hermione looked at Harry then to Draco. From Harry's almost begging smile, to Draco's frowning lips... they were both pleading for her... both wanting her so much. But she looked at them again and compared. She loved one man more than the other. And she had an answer from looking at both men.
She knew who she wanted right then.
But she would have to settle things first.
With a great heave of her chest, she smiled at Harry, and pulled him up. He looked confused for a moment, and stared at her, wondering why she did that.
In a whisper voice, Hermione pulled him away, and said, "Can I talk to you for a moment?"
Harry looked surprised, and looked at the crowd, to Hermione. He tried to chuckle, but he couldn't. "O-Of course," he said while taking off the charm from his voice. "Sorry folks, she needs a word with me." He tried to make it sound funny, or maybe even happy, but really, he looked worried. But Hermione only smiled.
Ron, Parvati, Ginny, Dean and even Draco ran to them as they stepped off the stage. They went behind it for some privacy, but the group followed anyways, wanting to know what was going on. They heard the band start things up again, and start playing music, so the crowd had begun chatting once more.
"Is something wrong, Hermione?" Harry said, holding her arms.
"No, no, nothing is wrong," she said.
"What's up?" she heard Ron say as he and everyone else watched the two in alarm.
"Yeah, what's going on?" Ginny said. Draco stood beside her, silent, just watching from the sidelines.
"What are you doing?" Harry said, when he spotted him, standing stark still.
Ron looked from both men, thinking that they're might be another fight, and quickly intervened. He stepped between them, and held up his hands.
"Not here, boys." he announced.
"I wasn't going to do anything," Draco said.
"Than what are you doing here?" Harry demanded from him.
"I wanted to see Hermione."
"She doesn't want to see you,"
"Harry, I need to speak with you alo - "
"You don't speak for her," Draco said,
"Would you just leave, Malfoy?" Hermione yelled.
"People, people, people," Ron said, trying to calm them. "Let's stop. Let's just leave them be, okay?"
"No, I want an answer from Hermione," Draco said, crossing his arms. She glared hot red daggers at him.
Harry froze. "An answer? To what?"
"Let her tell you," Draco said grumpily. "I want her answer. When I get her answer, you'll get yours too."
Hermione went completely numb. All anger focusing on Draco gone. Ron couldn't keep it in. "He asked her to go with him to Paris."
Everyone was surprised. "You asked her to Paris?" Harry repeated, sounding hurt. "Did you Malfoy?" he asked again.
"Yes, I did. I asked before knowing that you were going to propose. I'm sorry," he said.
Harry only smiled bitterly after looking at Hermione. "Are you? Or did you plan this?"
"No!" Draco said, now taking the defensive. "I only planned on asking her. I didn't want to ask the same night you were proposing."
"But you would have asked her anyways," Harry accused, still smiling bitterly. "I can't believe I thought tonight would be perfect."
"Harry," Hermione pleaded, as she jumped in, "can I just talk to you? Please?"
She looked around to everyone, sighing and signaling for them to leave. They looked alarmed for a moment, wondering if it would be safe, but they all left one by one, except Draco, leaving them to stare. Harry ignored him and glared.
"Hermione," he said, before she could even get a word out. "It's okay, you don't have to explain."
"But Harry - "
"No, no. It's alright. This proposal was stupid, I shouldn't have asked you when you were so mixed up. I should go," he said.
"Harry please - "
"I'll see you later."
"But Harry!"
"It's fine. You don't have to answer my proposal."
He slouched and walked away, leaving Hermione to look at his retreating back. She had screwed up. It wasn't like this was her fault, but she should have said something, right then and there to end it, but her mind told her it was the wrong time.
"Hermione..." Draco said to her, after Harry had left them. "I'm so sorry..."
"No," she said sternly. She was so sad and angry at the moment, she couldn't even bare to look at him. Hermione took a step back and turned around.
"Hermione, please - "
"Stay away from me. Your words have done enough for one night."
Draco stood miserably by himself, caring nothing of the fact that some people were staring at him. He was a fool, and so was Harry, to make Hermione pick. She shouldn't have had to make a choice.
Little did any of them know, that she had already made one.
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TBC.
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A/N: A few more last touch ups and im done with this guys! I hope i've got you all worrying about who she's going to pick. Honestly, it was even hard for me thinking about who she was going to end up with. Tell me who you think it is!
And DONT WORRY, I'm not pulling a trick. she WILL end up with one of them.
Review if you read it!
Yours truly,
Sevengee/Lina