Chapter 13
Ginny frowned as she stood in front of the mirror, having caught herself choosing the exact shade of nude-pink lipstick that Harry always liked. He always seemed to prefer a more understated look, with only a hint of foundation and blush, and never anything dramatic around the eyes. She had always appreciated that about Harry, how he liked her natural beauty.
But sometimes, she had itched to experiment… be a little more… daring.
Perhaps more… dangerous.
Hermione would be appalled by the looks that Ginny wanted to try. She could hear her friend's voice in her head now: "But you're so naturally gorgeous, Gin, you don't need to cake your face with paint! Why wouldn't you wear a mask, at that rate?"
Or: "Honestly Gin, you'd look like an Inferi with your eyeshadow like that."
Merlin, she missed that girl. She wondered briefly on how Hermione was getting on with the Slytherins. The girl could hold her own though, so Ginny figure she ought to be pitying Malfoy and Zabini, not the other way around. Especially when Hermione had a whole sack of Weasley goodies stashed away - Ginny snorted. She hoped Hermione had an interesting story by now, for Ginny couldn't wait to hear it.
Ginny made a mental note to owl Hermione after dinner. Well, actually, Ginny supposed she'd do so after her activities with Michael were finished.
Harry wouldn't have ever done such a thing on the first date.
Ginny groaned. Thoughts like these were why it was so hard to escape him - she'd have to escape herself.
And really, why was it so difficult to get Harry Potter out of her head? She was a single lady now, ready to take the world in stride without a care for any suitors falling at her feet. Michael might turn into something more, but as far as Ginny was concerned, he was just someone to get her mind off of Harry.
Because that worked so well last time, a sly voice in her head astutely pointed out.
Pushing all thoughts of the green-eyed boy out of her mind, Ginny spread out the numerous makeup supplies she had purchased and sighed at the huge percentage of nude and light pink shades of everything: lipstick, blush, eyeshadow, (even bronzer for Godric's sake), you name it. It was incredibly safe.
A little too safe.
Moving past her day-to-day sets, she fumbled around in the medicine cabinet to see if she even had anything a little bolder. And - there! - in the very back corner, still unopened and collecting dust, was a bright red lipstick next to a dusty smoky eyeshadow palette.
Popping open the cap, she grinned.
It was time for the world to meet a new Ginevra Molly Weasley.
"Why hello there," Ginny smirked, delighted at Michael's gaping expression. She fluttered her eyelashes, which were ridiculously long after she had tried (for the first time) a lengthening charm. Her teeny black dress provided a sharp contrast against her hair and lipstick.
Michael stuttered a bit before clearing his throat. "Ginevra," he said finally, and it sounded like a sin coming from his lips.
"Yes, Michael?" Ginny smiled, for once, loving her name and the way it rolled off his tongue.
"You are…" Michael searched for words, his eyes trailing down her Quidditch-hardened frame. "Breathtaking. Positively glowing."
"Thanks," Ginny said, taking his arm once he offered it. "You're looking quite dapper yourself."
Michael murmured his thanks as he directed them out the front door and into… a horse drawn carriage?
"Really?" Ginny laughed. "How much more cliche can you get?"
Michael smiled lopsidedly. "Well, my entire relationship with Susan seemed to come straight out of a romantic comedy."
"Oh? So why are we also using this method of transportation?" Ginny was momentarily distracted by the quiet whuff of the horses' noses blowing air as they nuzzled her arm.
"I thought we might do something absolutely terrible for our first date," Michael said.
That caught Ginny's attention. She frowned. "I thought the point of dates was to hope that they weren't terrible?"
"Not our dates. Rebound dates are always bad, so I thought it'd be fun to make them worse. I thought we could go to every place that's been significant in our previous relationships and moan about the memories," Michael stated goofily, though there was a tenseness to his voice.
Ginny threw her head back and laughed, and Michael relaxed. "That is a terrible idea, Michael."
"I thought so," Michael snorted, before opening the carriage door. "After you, m'lady."
Once they had settled into the carriage, Ginny turned to Michael. "So, where to?"
"I figured we'd probably want food, so I thought I'd bring you to the same restaurant that I went to with Susan on our first date."
"And that was-?"
"The Dill Seed Dryad."
"Hmm, good choice. At least we'll have good food. Not too expensive, either." Ginny nodded her head.
"You've been there before?"
"Oh yes, a couple of times for dinner with one of my teammates for her baby shower. Nothing spectacularly interesting, except she did go into labor during the party. Baby just wanted to join the celebrations, I suppose," Ginny laughed.
"Ah, well, I suppose I'll be the only one reminiscing horribly for dinner, but I thought afterwards we could do a location special to you and Harry?" Michael asked.
"I know just the place," Ginny smirked. "I won't even build up to it: I'll bring you to the place where Harry proposed."
Michael's jaw dropped. Ginny's smirk grew impossibly wider.
"I-I-" Michael stuttered, but before he could get the words out, the carriage stopped right in front of the Dill Seed Dryad. Ginny opened the door and exited the carriage, Michael stumbling after her. She sashayed up the pathway, leaving him practically speechless. Shaking himself, he rushed to catch up with her, barely making it in front of her to pull the door open for her.
"Oh," Ginny smiled, her hand fluttering to her heart. "And they say that chivalry is dead."
"You're welcome," Michael snorted, finally finding his voice again.
"Granger!" Parkinson's shrill voice penetrated through the bathroom door.
Hermione sighed as she finished with a last flick of mascara. "Yes, Pansy?"
Pansy paused, slightly thrown off by the use of her first name. "Are you ready?" she asked simply. Too simply. Almost… polite?
"Just about," Hermione answered as she opened the bathroom door. Hermione did a slight double take as she, again, saw more bits of Pansy than she ever needed to see. "Are we going?"
"Yes," Pansy frowned as she looked at Hermione's bare wrists and neck. "Don't you have any jewellery?"
"I'm not usually a fan," Hermione shrugged. Pansy shook her head in disgust.
"Not wearing a necklace with that delicate a neckline is a crime. It's like having a cupcake without the frosting," Pansy scoffed. "Accio gold ruby set!"
"Pansy, you don't have to-" Hermione interrupted as a simple heart-shaped ruby necklace, earrings, and matching gold bracelet flew into Pansy's hands.
"Nonsense, I can't be seen with a peon," Pansy said, grabbing Hermione's wrist and linking the bracelet it. "Turn around so I can do your neck."
"Girls!" Blaise called from outside the room's door. "We'll be late!"
"You know a party never starts on time!" Pansy shouted back through the door. Once the necklace had been hooked and the earrings placed, the two women exited Hermione's room and walked with Blaise towards the foyer. Malfoy was waiting, glaring at them in his perfectly tailored black robes.
"Took you lot long enough," Malfoy grunted.
"Again, the party does not start until after I arrive," Pansy said, rolling her eyes.
"Enough, we're off," Blaise chastised, sticking out his arm so he could side-apparate them.
Hermione stumbled forward slightly in her gold heels upon apparition, but someone caught her before she fell too far. She turned to thank- Malfoy?
"Thanks?" Hermione said, but she was so shocked that the word came out more like a question than a statement of gratitude.
Malfoy raised an eyebrow before offering his arm. "Shall we?"
Confused, Hermione looked towards Pansy, who had taken Blaise's arm. Pansy rolled her eyes and jerked her head towards Malfoy, indicating that Hermione ought to "bloody take his arm," even though she didn't have to verbalize it.
Hesitantly, Hermione looped her hand through, and Malfoy escorted her into the Medici Villa behind Pansy and Blaise.
The building was enormous, but the party was taking place outside in the garden centered in the middle of the villa. After greeting their hosts briefly (Arnaldo's mouth lingered on Hermione's hand a bit too long), the four Brits congregated in one of the corners of the peristyle that surrounded the open air courtyard. Each was holding a thin flute of pink champagne, except Pansy who had opted for a shot of limoncello.
"So now that we're here, what did you find about our dear representatives? Anything good?" Blaise asked. "You can point out each of them as they pass by us."
Malfoy snorted. "The amount of dirt on this family is astounding. Let's start small and work up, shall we?"
Hermione nodded, frowning slightly.
"Are you all right, Hermione?" Blaise asked, noticing her tense expression.
"I just… I've never done this before. Search for leverage the same way," she explained.
"Is the goody-Gryffindor uncomfortable?" Pansy asked snidely, though there was less bite to it than normal. Hermione thought that was odd.
"Yes," Hermione answered frankly. "I'm out of my element, and I can acknowledge that."
Malfoy turned to her. "But you've been an ambassador to countless other species."
"And in all of those negotiations, there was none of this side-stepping and political angling," Hermione huffed. "It was straight forward. Blunt. They appreciated it. I appreciated it when they returned the favor. I've never had to understand their culture by finding their weaknesses and going after them. I do direct, none of this..." she waved her arms around. "This," she frowned, unable to put words to their situation.
"How strange," Malfoy commented, and Blaise smirked to himself. A world without intrigue and consistent maneuvering? What type of world was that?
"Anyways," Blaise directed the conversation back.
"Let's start off with the Medici family tree, shall we?" Malfoy suggested, and Blaise nodded in affirmative.
"Stefano Medici, our dear Italian Minister over there," Malfoy gestured with his glass, "is the son of Ceasario Medici and his ex-wife Messalina Medici. Their divorce was classic: Ceasario couldn't keep it in his trousers and, of course, impregnated his current wife with Stefano's half brother, Rinaldo. Ceasario is currently married to Rosalia Medici, and both are quite healthy despite their age."
"Are Ceasario and Rosalia in attendance?" Pansy wondered.
"I don't see them here, but I wouldn't expect them to be. Messalina lives with Stefano, so it might be a tad awkward if Daddy Dearest and his younger wife attended the gala," Malfoy snorted.
"More on Stefano?" Blaise asked.
"Naturally. Stefano's wife, Allegra Medici, is deceased - heart problems, so nothing quite so scandalous there. Stefano didn't even find a new wife after her, so it wasn't a convenient death, either."
"Probably didn't want to after he saw how awful it must have been for his mother," Hermione said softly.
Malfoy shrugged. "As such, Stefano's only son is Arnaldo, with whom we've met. He is considered Italy's most eligible bachelor and is likely to take the position of Minister when his father retires. So far, Arnaldo's been spotless. Even his breakups have been clean and well-executed. No girl has gone to the gossip rags to throw his reputation into the dumps," explained Malfoy.
Pansy scoffed. "Greedy idiots," she sniffed. "They probably could have made more money if they had sold their story in a series of interviews instead of being bought off by the family."
"No weaknesses to ascertain yet, but we could ask Pansy to flush Arnaldo out," Malfoy suggested.
"I have a better idea," Blaise smiled.
Malfoy snapped his head towards Blaise in shock. "Oh?" he asked, a little too evenly to be natural. Blaise tilted his head towards Hermione.
Hermione's eyebrows furrowed. "Me?"
Malfoy snorted. Hermione glared at the blond, but he shrugged. "I'm sorry, but I highly doubt you're the best choice for playing the seduce-his-secrets-out-of-him game."
"Fair," Hermione conceded.
"It has to be you, though," Blaise pushed.
"Why me?" Hermione asked.
Blaise gave her a knowing glance, waiting for her to make the connection. He didn't have to wait long before it clicked.
"You noticed it too, huh?" Hermione asked frustratedly.
"You imply his overkill eye contact and stalker-like observation?" Malfoy snorted.
"Precisely," Blaise nodded.
Hermione bit her lip. "I suck at that game," she grumbled under her breath.
"I can give you pointers," Pansy shrugged dismissively. "I'm sure you'll get it in no time. You're a quick study."
"No," Malfoy said sharply. The other two looked at him oddly.
"If Arnaldo is interested in Granger, he'll see right through her. She needs to be herself - making all of the sociopolitical blunders-"
"Hey!" Hermione interrupted, but he continued right over her protest.
"-that she would be expected to make. Granger needs to be authentic and encourage his being open with her. If she tries to play the game she's never played before, it will be awkward and a greater disaster than if she simply were to step on his toes. He'll underestimate her. We need that," Malfoy concluded.
"Watch out," Pansy muttered over the fourth shot glass she had just downed. "Speak of the devil, and he shall appear."
"Ah, Blaise," Arnaldo smiled as he approached them, a beautiful lady on his arm. Hermione's eyes narrowed. There was something about this girl that was familiar. "Draco, and," Arnaldo paused slightly, "Hermione." It was almost a sigh, with how soft his voice had become.
Pansy's eyebrows were raised sky-high.
"Pansy, was it not?" Arnaldo asked smoothly. "I trust you're enjoying yourselves?"
"But of course, the rose champagne is simply delightful," Malfoy said. "You haven't introduced us to your lovely compan-"
"Nessie?" Blaise asked, shocked.
"Blaise Zabini," the green-eyed, raven-haired bombshell stated boredly. "Why am I not surprised to see you here?"
"Nessie… as in, Lynessa Sterling?" Hermione put two and two together. Nessa and Nessie Sterling both had the signature Sterling locks: so black that it shimmered blue in the right light. Though their general facial structure mimicked one another, that was where their similarities ended. Nessa had deep blue eyes and a strong, pointed nose, while Nessie's pale green eyes and delicate button nose matched her softer set of cheekbones. "You're Nessa's younger sister!"
"Glad to finally meet you, Hermione," Lynessa smiled. "Nessa constantly chatters on about you, and somehow, you've never made it over to our place. She's here somewhere, I'm sure you'll find her."
"You four know Lynessa?" Arnaldo asked, though Hermione could tell his surprise was feigned.
Blaise had recovered himself, though his smile was stiff. "Yes, we knew each other quite well back at Hogwarts."
Lynessa's small smile widened dangerously. "Quite well, indeed."
"What brings you to Italy, Nessie?" Pansy asked. "What a coincidence we run into each other!" Hermione's cringed at Pansy's honey-sweet tone, chock full of poison.
"Oh the typical," Nessie smirked. "Family visiting families, making arrangements."
"Oh? Whose?" asked Pansy.
"Well, the Caruso's, naturally, as they're my cousins. They recommended I meet Arnaldo and his father, Stefano, and well, here we are," Lynessa smiled up to her date.
Blaise's glass suddenly shattered in his hand, and he looked at the shards embedded in his palm, shocked.
"Mother of Merlin!" Hermione gasped, pulling out her wand and vanishing the debris away as Pansy removed the glass from her boyfriend's hands. Malfoy began muttering healing spells, watching in concern as Blaise's skin began to knit back together.
Blaise cleared his throat, wincing as the rest of his wounds healed. "So sorry for the mess, Arnaldo."
Arnaldo smirked. "There's no need to worry. We always clean after our guests have arrived."
"Arnaldo, is that Aurelia Agosti over there?" Lynessa asked, distracted by a severe-looking blonde woman.
"I do believe so, yes," Arnaldo nodded. Lynessa looked at him questioningly. "What?" Arnaldo asked.
"I didn't realize your family was so… liberal." Lynessa shrugged. "I'm pleasantly surprised, that's all. She's quite a legend. You must introduce me, Arnaldo. I'm sure Hermione's heard of her."
"We've actually met," Hermione smiled fondly. "She and I worked on a case together surrounding illegal trafficking of magical creatures. She worked an embezzlement angle, and she's quite the impressive prosecutor."
"You haven't met her, Lynessa? I thought she was affianced to Luca in all but formality," Arnaldo frowned.
"Oh, Luca, that sly dog," Lynessa grinned. "It's likely because it isn't formally contracted yet. Introduce me!"
"But of course." Arnaldo bowed his head towards the rest. "I'm sorry, but Lynessa has spoken. I hope you all have an excellent rest of the evening, free from injury or other mishaps. Hermione," Arnaldo smiled once, before departing.
"What the hell, Blaise?" Pansy hissed. "One pretty face from your past swings by and you smash your glass? Control yourself!"
"I didn't smash my glass. I was holding it normally," Blaise snapped back. "Either Arnaldo or Lynessa cast a wordless reducto, but it wasn't my natural strength, I can assure you."
"Definitely Arnaldo. He'd rather his possible fiancee avoid making googly eyes at another Italian Stallion," Malfoy snorted after examining Blaise's now healed hands.
"No way," Hermione laughed. "That was all Lynessa. Arnaldo probably wouldn't want to jeopardize our relations, but Lynessa has no such restrictions. She's still bitter."
"What on Earth does she have to be bitter about?" Malfoy asked.
Blaise looked at Hermione oddly. "And how would you know all this?"
"She's friends with Vanessa Sterling - girls gossip. Get over it," Pansy snapped.
"What did you do to her?" Malfoy asked, turning to Blaise. "When did this happen? And how is that I'm the only person who doesn't know what happened?"
"You were concerned with other things during sixth year," Blaise said. Annoyed, "Back to the Medicis. We'll have to see if-"
"Wait. Possible fiancee?" Hermione asked, reprocessing Malfoy's earlier words.
"Keep up, Granger," Pansy sniffed. "Families meeting families? Making arrangements? Her cousins told her that she needed to be introduced to Arnaldo and his father? What else?"
"Oh," Hermione sighed. "This is exhausting."
"About that," Blaise cut in, "we'll have to see whether or not Hermione will actually have any influence on Arnaldo. We don't want her to destroy her reputation either."
"Right," Malfoy agreed. "Look, over there. That's Martino Medici, Stefano's one full brother, by Messalina that is. He is married to Mariella, and he's attempted a few acts of minor sabotage in the hopes that Stefano will step down from the Minister position and hand it to Martino. Each has failed, however, and he is largely considered a power-hungry idiot. There are rumors that Mariella has attempted to seduce Stefano in hopes of becoming Stefano's second wife, but no such luck so far. They have four children. The eldest is Massimo Medici - there, by the fountains - a promising political candidate. Next is the sister, Mafalda, in the deep purple there, no, Blaise, with the gold curls, yes, has released her own designer handbag line and is currently working on a perfume line. Finally are the twins, Marcello and Manuele. Both are still in school. I think Marcello is studying law or political science at University of Bologna, and Manuele is studying medicine at University of Verona. I think the pair of them are talking to that violist."
"Muggle schools?" Hermione asked. "Those are muggle."
"The Medicis don't care about nonmagic influences. Their heritage lies in muggles, and it's well-known to the Italian wizarding aristocracy," Blaise sighed.
"Disgusting," Pansy said.
Hermione took a step back as if she had been slapped.
"Pans," Blaise warned, but Hermione was already backing away, deciding she'd have more luck finding Nessa somewhere in the party than sticking around with the three Slytherins.
Hermione fled to another crowd of people who had gathered around a small reflecting pool, seeking out her best friend. She had just spotted a head of raven-hair when she collided roughly against another person.
"Oof!" the man grunted.
"Merlin, I'm so sorry," Hermione apologized. "I just spotted my friend, and-"
"Hermy-ownee?"
Hermione looked up and found-
"Viktor?" Hermione asked, startled.
AN: Hello, hello! Here's an update for you all just in time for the holiday season. Hope you're still with me - please review! I haven't heard from all of you in so long! Finals are rough, but I'll be done soon, so maybe we'll be able to squeak out another chapter or two before the next semester starts. Thoughts on Lynessa-Blaise dynamic? Thoughts on the new Pansy-Hermione relationship? How about Viktor Krum? Drop me a note below!