I know this is a bit later than usual this week, but the youngest turned 8 and we broke down and bought her
MineCraft for the computer, so there's been a bit of a demand for the computer this week. As always I own nothing, and hope you enjoy.
Chapter 26
Hermione chose a pale gray dress robe with silver snowflakes shimmering along the trim. Winky piled her hair atop her head, securing it with silver barrettes Lucius had given her. She selected platinum and sapphire earrings from Sirius that set off the dress nicely. The hexagon cut of the stones caused the twinkle in them to resemble snowflakes. The chain of her necklace came from Sirius, but the charm was a repurposed broach from Lucius. The whimsical item depicted a winter themed dragon in flight. She had carefully balanced all of her accessories to be equal from each of them. The only thing not from her houses was the bracelet from Theo, which she had happily resumed wearing a few days before.
Lucius smirked when he saw the broach, his face falling somewhat when he realized what she had done, which made Hermione smirk. "I told you I'm not playing this game with you two." She followed her mother to the floo.
Some enterprising cog transformed the Ministry into a winter wonderland for the evening. Evergreen trees and holly decorated the walls, the branches swaying in a gentle imaginary breeze. Mistletoe hung throughout the room, occasionally trapping the unwary beneath it. Employees and distinguished guests mingled through the room, some heading towards tables, others procuring drinks from the bar. Lucius escorted Narcissa to a table, Hermione and Draco following close behind, looking around for people they knew. "There's Harry." Hermione pointed.
"And here comes Theo and Blaise." Hermione looked over. Her boyfriend and his friend quickly made their way over. Hermione greeted Theo with a quick peek on the cheek. She nodded to Blaise.
"We've decided to flee Mum's new boyfriend while we could. Safety in numbers and all that."
"Who's her newest guy?" Draco asked.
"Nigel Daniels, the most boring man on the planet."
Hermione chuckled, "I don't know, Percy Weasley once spent an hour lecturing us on the importance of cauldron bottom thickness regulations."
"Then he was quoting Nigel, call me mister, Daniels. Man wants to play house with my mother, but tells me to address him in a formal manner. And he calls me Sport, like I'm a little kid." Blaise ranted.
"Aw, poor sport." Draco laughed. Blaise glared, but remained silent as the adults joined them. Theo held out a chair for Hermione before sitting down besides her. The conversation shifted to polite small talk. Sirius and Harry arrived moments before the Greengrass family. Daphne introduced her sister, Astoria, a second year Slytherin as they were seated at the table.
The Minister gave a small welcoming speech, before announcing dinner. The food appeared on the plates before them, similar to meals at Hogwarts. Between courses different department heads and Wizengamot members spoke about the last year and what the future held for each department and the Ministry as a whole. Hermione spent the entire time Dolores Umbridge droned on about education being important to the future of the wizarding world, imaging the woman's head bursting into flames. After the last speech, dessert appeared. Many of the table stood and moved to mingle.
Before anyone could speak, Daphne snatched Hermione's hand and dragged her away. "Where are we going?" she asked the blonde.
"To network, we both know you're never going to be a society wife. And while that's all well and good, some day you might need us. And then you want us feeling like we're doing a favor for a friend, not suddenly being useful to you because you need something."
"I get you, lead on."
Daphne introduced Hermione around the room to various people who attended different schools or graduated before she knew she was a Malfoy. The girls briefly joined several Slytherin and Hufflepuff students at a table. One girl slyly asked about Theo.
"He just took me on the most wonderful date! We went ice skating at the Tower of London. Though, since Theo can't skate, that because an adventure." She laughed.
"Why would he take you ice skating if he can't skate?" asked Susan Bones.
"My adopted father used to take me every year, so he wanted to do something nice and let me keep part of my past going. And a certain unkind Ravenclaw " Hermione smiled sadly. "It was so sweet of him. After skating we had lunch and just wandered about until after dark. Then I took him on a tour of my muggle neighborhood to look at Christmas lights."
"Did he get that idea from Harry, or did Harry get it from him?" asked Hannah Abbott.
"Tracey got it from me. Why?"
"Tracey told me about the amazing evening she and Harry spent walking around talking."
"Yeah, he dragged me shopping for the next day."
"Aw, so sweet." Hannah sighed.
Shuffling in the corner of the room drew attention. "Oh," Daphne popped up, "must be time for the dancing portion." She grabbed Hermione's hand again. "We should be getting back."
Halfway back to their table, Hermione's feet stuck. She nearly pulled Daphne to the floor by wrenching her arm when she stopped. The other girl looked back questioning. A glance up answered everything. "Stay here, I'll get Theo."
"Ha ha, please hurry, I'm a sitting duck out here." Daphne wrinkled her brow in confusion. "Never mind, muggle saying." Hermione snapped. "Just go." Daphne hastened across the ballroom.
Hermione stood in between tables feeling very self conscious. Whoever decorated the hall hadn't thought the mistletoe placement through completely. Silently she begged Daphne and Theo to hurry up. She felt exposed and trapped, frozen in the middle of the floor like she was. "Hello, Malfoy, having troubles?" Hermione fought not to growl at the sound of Cormac McLaggen's voice. "Well, well, Gryffindor's princess does clean up nicely." He looked her up and down, leering suggestively.
"Kindly bugger off, McLaggen."
"Such language from such a pretty face." He laughed. "I'm only trying to be your knight in shining armor."
"I'd rather starve to death stranded here. Piss off."
"Now, now, Malfoy, is that any way to speak to your rescuer?" McLaggen stepped closer, putting his arm around her waist. He dropped his voice into what would have been a seductive tone if she hadn't been completely repulsed. "Don't worry, I'll have you free in a moment."
"Please stop touching me." Hermione said in a firm flat tone. McLaggen leaned forward. She placed her hand on his face and dug her fingernails into the soft flesh of his cheeks. "Let go of me." She said a little louder, beginning to draw attention.
"Ow, woman! What is your problem?"
"My problem is that I told you twice to leave me alone. I told you not to touch me. My problem is that the wizarding world is full of rapey crap and no one sees anything wrong with it." She noticed her family and several aurors approaching. "Just because I'm trapped under this plant does not mean I lose any say over who can touch me or kiss me. I did not ask for your assistance. I most certainly did not accept it- not that you offered. You do not get to tell me that you're going to touch me. Or act like I should be grateful. We are hardly the only people in the room. You were not my only option, nor was this a life or death matter." He took a step back from the fiery fury radiating from her, only to back into an irate Lucius. He glanced around for help, only to discover he was flanked by an equally annoyed Sirius.
Theo stepped forward. "Are you okay, sweet?"
"I'm just annoyed. Would you mind releasing me, please?"
"Of course." He made a show of brushing his lips against hers, the barest touch necessary to liberate her from the spell.
"Thank you."
"My pleasure, shall we?" He offered her his arm.
"Let's go." She took his arm and let him lead her away without a backwards glance. She allowed Theo to direct her to a seat so she could take a few minutes to calm down.
Harry had been speaking to Tonks and Shacklebolt when the commotion started. Both aurors abruptly left to investigate. Harry began that way when he recognized Hermione's voice, only to be stopped by Albus Dumbledore. "Harry, my boy, how has your holiday been?"
"Mostly uneventful. Just been trying to undo all the damage from the love potion thing."
"Yes, well, I hope that you, at least, understand it was a harmless prank. There really is no need for aurors any longer, or criminal charges." Dumbledore twinkled at him.
Harry narrowed his eyes. "No, I don't. Until we know who administered the potions and why, we don't know any of that. I assume this was your position during my parents' sixth year, when those girls, who were potioned and as good as raped, both ended up dead because of everything." Dumbledore stared stunned by Harry's quietly expressed rant. "Because anytime something coerces you to engage in sexual activity is rape. Even if you don't agree with me, that's my opinion."
"Now, Harry, we have greater concerns. We can't be fighting amongst ourselves."
"What are you on about?"
"Lord Voldemort is out there biding his time. I didn't mean to tell you this so soon, but there is a prophecy."
"No, nope, you know what? I'm done. You want to talk about this, make an appointment with Sirius and House Black." Harry turned and walked away.
"Harry," Dumbledore called after him.
"Appointment." Harry yelled over his shoulder. He quickly rejoined his group, intent on ignoring the old wizard's doom predictions for the evening.
Once the aurors felt confident Lucius and Sirius had McLaggen firmly in hand, and there was no threat to Hermione, they returned to the party. "Is there a reason my daughter looks so distressed, Mr McLaggen, was it?" Lucius drawled in a low dangerous voice.
"Yes, sir, I mean , no, sir." Cormac stammered. "I mean, yes my name is McLaggen, no there isn't a reason for her to be distressed."
"Then why does she look ready to hex you, McLaggen?" asked Sirius. "Because if looks could kill, you'd be a little pile of smoldering ash."
"I offered to help her out from under the mistletoe."
"I see." Sirius nodded. "And in typical female fashion she's just overreacting. Because she didn't mean it when she refused your advances, or asked you not to touch her. She just misunderstood." McLaggen shrank back. "The brightest witch of her age didn't understand something so simple, right?" His voice dripped with sarcasm.
"I, uh, I may have, uh, been, uh, somewhat abrasive and forceful with my offer. For which I would apologized, but it would be rude to inflict my presence on Miss Malfoy any further tonight."
Sirius grinned at Lucius. "That was a good answer."
"It rather was. He should go share these opinions with others. Now." The younger wizard nodded furiously and race away. "I think I preferred it when I only had a son."
"You don't mean that."
"No, but life was easier."
"But a hell of a lot less fun." Sirius countered.
"I'll drink to that." Together they made their way to the bar.
Determined not to let Cormac McLaggen ruin the evening, Hermione insisted on dancing as soon as the music began. After a few songs, Draco cut in for a dance. Blaise swept in and demanded a dance. Not to be outdone, Harry then took a turn. She no sooner returned to Theo, then Lucius appeared to claim her for a dance, followed by Sirius. When Cassius Warrington swooped in for a dance after Sirius, Theo audible growled. "She's my girlfriend." he grumbled under her breath, making Draco and Blaise chuckle. "Go ahead, laugh it up. So funny, let me tell you." They continued to laugh as Theo fumed.
The musicians announced a brief break, and Hermione made her way back to them. "I want to go sit down. My feet are killing me. Draco, come do your annoying brother routine and drive them away."
"Annoying brother?"
"Yeah, hover about glaring at anyone who tries to approach us."
"Theo can sit with you."
"Sure, and I know he will, but his presence doesn't deter them. No betrothal agreement or engagement announcement and there's still a chance." She laughed when Theo emitted a low rumbling growl. "Did you just growl?"
"You're mine, and I don't like having to share your attention. Don't get me wrong, I agree we are no where near old enough or ready for any kind of permanent arrangements, but all these blokes sniffing around gets old."
"Oh, poor baby, you have to watch me make banal chit chat. How horrible for you."
"Not banal chit chat!" Blaise exclaimed in mock horror.
Theo glared at him. "You know, I can always go home with the Malfoys. Let you and your mum spend some quality family time with Call Me Mr Daniels."
Looking horrified, Blaise quickly backtracked. "I'm sorry, you're correct, right bloody nuisances. We'll help you drive them away. Draco laughed at his antics.
They sat discussing the other ball attendees, resting Hermione's feet. Theo pulled them into his lap. He slid off her shoes and began rubbing up and down her instep, kneading out the aches. Before long Harry joined them, flopping into a chair. "Are these things always like this?"
"Like what?" Draco asked him.
"People either sucking up or looking down on you. And the girls, they constantly seem ready to pounce."
Draco nodded, "Pretty much, networking and husband hunting, right terrifying some days."
"Ah, but learning how to play the games now will help you later in life." Hermione told him.
"Help you, maybe, bella ragazzaz, but some of us have no great political ambitions."
"Aw, Blaise, don't worry. You don't have to be politically minded to be of help to me." She simpered. Blaise looked about nervously. "Relax, I'm not going to feed to dragons or anything."
"No, she's going to feed you to Pansy." Draco joked.
"Don't be silly, Draco." Hermione scolded. "She doesn't want Blaise. The only person I could offer her is you." They all laughed as he jokingly recoiled.
The Malfoys kept the evening short, leaving shortly after midnight, citing Hermione's recent injuries. She suspected they would do the same the next night at the Pucey's. Madame Bones decided the security there should be adequate, especially since on some level they wanted to draw the letter writer out.