Ok time for a poll...who else thinks that J.K. Rowling should actually write and publish Hogwarts: A History ? its mentioned so often that actually having a copy would be totally awesome in my mind :D
ok there my little rant over with now for the real stuff...
This chapter features Draco and Hermione but they are not who it is centered around...you'll have to take a guess...
Disclaimer: i own nothing but the plot :(
Sorry its taken so long but i now work two jobs and considering it was over a year between the last 2 updates i'm not doing too badly :D hope you like the chapter and the next one is in the works...i don't know how many more there is going to be actually, will have to wait and see...
Enjoy :D
P.S. This is a filler chapter btw.
Chapter Twenty Four: New Year, New Beginnings.
The day of the new year's eve party, Hermione was walking through the halls of Hogwarts talking to Lavender. The day before Narcissa had taken Hermione, Lavender, Ginny, Luna and Jane to Hogsmeade to buy their dresses for the party and to give Jane a tour of the wizarding village. As they reached the front entrance Ginny caught up with them.
"So where are Draco and Theo today?" Ginny asked, still envious that her fellow Gryffindors had steady boyfriends whereas she did not.
"They're out on the Quidditch pitch with Blaise" Lavender replied, "We're just heading out there now to watch them" She added.
"Getting a jump on Quidditch training?" Ginny queried.
"No, they're just mucking around" Hermione replied with a smile.
"I don't understand the draw card to Quidditch, I just like what it does to Theo's muscles" Lavender giggled. Hermione rolled her eyes, even though secretly she agreed with Lavender, she liked what it did to Draco's muscles too.
"Do you mind if I tag along? Luna's off somewhere with Harry" Ginny asked.
"Course not Gin" Hermione smiled.
"Our girls are here Draco" Theo commented when he noticed Lavender and Hermione arrive. Draco smirked when he saw that Ginny was with them and turned to Blaise.
"Looks like your girl came too Blaise" He taunted. Blaise glared at him.
"Shut up Draco" He growled. Theo glanced at him then back at the stands.
"You're dating Ginny Weasley?" he asked surprised that he hadn't known about it before now.
"No!" Blaise hissed.
"He wants to though!" Draco reported.
"Then why haven't you asked her out yet?" Theo asked curiously.
"He's too chicken" Draco replied before Blaise could open his mouth.
"I'm not a coward Malfoy! I just don't know how to go about it" Blaise admitted.
"This coming from the guy who was pushing me to ask Mia out?" Draco queried.
"Why don't you ask her to go to the party with you tonight?" Theo asked.
"Yeah, just be casual about it" Draco added. Blaise thought about it for a moment, then sighed and nodded.
"Alright, though she probably already has a date" he stated. Draco and Theo kept flying around as Blaise flew over to where the girls were sitting, engrossed in a deep conversation.
"Hey Red!" Ginny glanced up in surprise, having been so engrossed in the conversation she was having with Hermione and Lavender that she hadn't noticed Blaise hovering a couple of meter's away on his broom.
"Yeah Zabini?" she asked warily, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart. Ever since the conversation they had shared on the train, she had felt attracted to the Italian Slytherin.
"You got a date for this thing tonight?" Blaise asked casually. Ginny breathed in sharply, but forced herself to act as casual as him.
"No, why do you ask?" she replied. Blaise shrugged.
"Wondered if you wanna come with me then?" He responded. Ginny pretended to think about it before nodding her head.
"Alright Zabini, sounds good" she finally responded. Blaise grinned and winked at her.
"I'll meet you in the front hall at six then" he stated before he turned to fly off. He paused and looked over his shoulder at Ginny. "What colour?" he asked. Ginny looked confused.
"For what?" she asked.
"What colour should I wear to match your dress?" Blaise explained. Ginny raised her eyebrows in shock, but answered.
"Blood red or black" Blaise nodded.
"Alright, I'll see you at six" he responded before flying away and rejoining his friends. Ginny turned to Hermione and Lavender who were grinning at her.
"Did that just happen?" she asked them. Lavender nodded and Hermione smiled.
"That it did Gin" Hermione replied.
"Wow, must be my lucky day then!" Ginny grinned.
"Fancy Blaise do you?" Lavender asked with a knowing look. Ginny blushed but nodded.
"Yeah, I do" She admitted.
"Knock him dead tonight then Gin!" Hermione encouraged.
"Yeah go out and snag yourself your very own Slytherin! Trust me they make the best boyfriends!" Lavender giggled. Hermione sighed, but smiled and nodded at Gin, she had to admit that Slytherin's did indeed make the best boyfriends.
6pm found Blaise standing with Draco and Theo at the bottom of the stairs as they waited for their dates to arrive. Harry and Ron had already come down and had nodded at the three Slytherins in acknowledgement before continuing to the great hall. Draco had chuckled at the look on Ron's face as he had taken in Blaise's black shirt and blood red tie.
"I don't think that Red told her brother that you were her date tonight" Theo commented to Blaise upon seeing the look on the red heads face when he noticed that Blaise's attire matched his sisters dress. Blaise had nodded then smirked when he saw Mr and Mrs Weasley arrive and enter the great hall.
"Luckily for me the Weasley's are here, they'll keep him in line" he stated.
"I wouldn't want to piss Mrs Weasley off either you know, she's a force to be reckoned with" Draco grinned.
"I have no intention of doing any such thing" Blaise retorted with a smirk. Draco was about to reply when a low whistle from Theo caught his attention. Moving his gaze to follow Theo's his eyes widened in appreciation at the sight that greeted him. Hermione, Ginny and Lavender were standing at the top of the stairs smiling at the three Slytherins waiting for them. Lavender wore a deep purple figure hugging strapless dress that ended mid thigh. Draco and Blaise had ribbed Theo when they first saw his deep purple tie and silver shirt, but the dirty blonde had simply shrugged and stated 'Lav's favorite colour is purple and she looks hot in it'. Now seeing Theo's blonde girlfriend in the deep purple dress, Draco had to admit that she did indeed look 'hot' in it. Ginny's black dress was a classic cut straight bodied spaghetti strap that ended just four inches above her knees, the blood red embroidery covering the dress depicting what looked to be a tangled web of vines. But it was when his eyes landed on his own girlfriend that Draco found it hard to breathe. When he had asked what colours to wear, Hermione had simply stated to wear his house colours. His emerald green shirt and silver tie complimenting his blonde hair and silver eyes. Now as he stared at the temptress descending the stairs he was rendered speechless in his awe. Hermione's dress was a deep emerald green halter neck, the low v of the bodice accentuated her bust, the green silk of the bodice fading into a silver chain that clasped behind her neck. It was floor length with a split that ended at mid thigh and exposed her slender left leg as she walked. Draco narrowed his eyes when he noticed something on the dress as she stepped down. With her movements a magical hologram of a silver dragon appeared and disappeared, stretching from her left hip and across her abdomen in full flight. When she finally reached him, Draco immediately wrapped and arm around her waist and placed an appreciative kiss on the side of her neck which was bared due to her hair been up in an elegant French twist, held by a silver clip shaped like a dragon and soft tendrils of hair framing her face.
"You look stunning Mia" he breathed into her ear.
"As do you" Hermione replied with a smile.
"Shall we go?" he asked with a nod in the direction of the great hall. Hermione nodded and wrapped her arm around his waist as he slid his hand to her hip and used it to guide her towards the Great hall. It was then that he realized that the dress had left the entirety of her back exposed. At his gasp Hermione turned to him with a smirk.
"Like it?" she asked saucily.
"Like it? I love it, but I'm going to be hard pressed to keep my hands to myself, in front of your parents no less" Draco groaned. Hermione giggled.
"Then it would surprise you to learn that it was my mum that found the dress and insisted that I buy it, her words were 'It has a dragon on it dear, not to mention the low cut and exposed back, that should drive that handsome man of yours to distraction'" she stated. Draco gaped in shock before sighing heavily.
"Yes, well, Jane would be correct in her assumption" he admitted. Hermione laughed and placed a chaste kiss on his lips before following his lead and heading towards where their parents were standing and talking together.
"Hermione you look absolutely stunning dear" Narcissa gushed when they reached the four adults.
"Yes indeed, Draco had better stick close or some other wizard will try to steal you away" Lucius added with a smirk and wink at Hermione when he noticed his son scowl and pull her tighter to him. Hermione grinned and returned his wink.
Blaise was nervous as Ginny guided him over to her parents, though he was the one to insist on meeting them.
"Relax Zabini, they won't bite" Ginny murmured with a smile.
"I'm not really worried about your parents biting me Red, more that they won't approve of me since I'm a Slytherin" he replied under his breath.
"I wouldn't worry about that Zabini" Ginny assured him.
"Call me Blaise" the Italian replied.
"Only if you call me Ginny" the Gryffindor smiled. Blaise nodded in agreement.
"Alright Gin" he responded. Ginny shot him a look but couldn't resist a smile at the Slytherin smirk that quirked his mouth when he noticed her expression.
"You Slytherin's always have to be different don't you?" she laughed.
"Of course, we wouldn't be nearly as intriguing if we were the same as everyone else" Blaise responded with a smile, causing Ginny to laugh again and grab his hand to pull him along faster towards her parents.
"Mum, Dad, this is Blaise Zabini" she introduced once they had reached the Weasley's.
"Pleasure to meet you" Blaise nodded politely.
"Oh hello Blaise dear, It's wonderful to meet you as well" Molly Weasley smiled before she wrapped him one of her infamous hugs.
"Mum!" Ginny hissed in embarrassment.
"Molly dear, I do believe that you are suffocating the poor lad" Arthur sighed as he pried his wife away from the shocked Slytherin.
"Oh dear I am terribly sorry, can't seem to help myself really" Molly apologised to the Italian. Blaise stifled a cough and smiled at the Weasley matriarch.
"Its fine ma'am" he replied.
"Oh aren't you the polite one, call me Molly dear" Molly smiled. Blaise smiled slightly and nodded before turning to Mr Weasley.
"Mr Weasley" he stated as he held out his hand.
"Its Arthur, and nice to meet you Blaise" Arthur replied as he shook his hand.
"Oh dear, is that dirt on Ronald's shirt? Excuse us dears, have a lovely time" Molly suddenly stated before grabbing her husband and dragging him over to their youngest son. Blaise smirked as he saw Ron's embarrassed expression when Molly began chiding him for the dirty smudge on the collar of his white shirt.
"I like your parent's Gin, they're like a breath of fresh air to be around compared to my relatives"
"Yes but embarrassing to boot!" Ginny commented, her face a flaming red as she recalled the shocked look on Blaise's face when her mother had swept him into her arms. "Sorry about my mother Blaise, she gets a bit carried away sometimes" she added.
"Forget it, it was actually refreshing to be greeted so warmly instead of with suspicion just because I was sorted into Slytherin" Blaise replied with a smile. Ginny returned the smile before grabbing his hand and towing him towards the refreshment table where Theo, Lav, Draco and Hermione were standing.
"That was quite the introduction you had with the Weasley's Blaise" Draco smirked as soon as they reached them.
"Reminded me of my introduction to Lav's parents, her mother hugged me for ages much to Lav's embarrassment" Theo added. Draco snickered softly.
"Quiet Draco! My mother hugged you as well if you recall" Hermione scolded. Draco chuckled and smiled down at his girlfriend.
"That she did Mia, must be because we Slytherin's are so irresistible" he responded.
"And handsome" Theo added with a smirk at his own blushing girlfriend remembering her embarrassment at her mother's reaction to first meeting him.
"And conceited" Hermione stated smugly, smiling when she saw Ginny and Lavender nodding in agreement.
"Touché" Blaise laughed, slinging an arm around Ginny's shoulders, much to the red heads secret delight. Hermione noticed the joy in Ginny's blue eyes and winked at her secretly.
"Come on Theo, let's dance!" Lavender grinned before dragging her boyfriend onto the dance floor and moving swiftly into his arms.
"Sounds like a plan, come on Gin" Blaise commented before guiding her onto the dance floor and pulling her into his hold.
"Shall we join them Mia?" Draco asked his girlfriend.
"Of course" Hermione grinned, before tugging him onto the dance floor and moving fluidly into his embrace as they began to move to the music.
Lucius and Narcissa watched as their son and Hermione danced together in the throng of students and parents on the dance floor.
"They do make a stunning couple don't they" Lucius commented to his wife.
"That they do my love" Narcissa replied before taking his hand and pulling him onto the floor to join in the dancing.
Ginny was having the time of her life, as the evening had progressed the attraction that she had developed for the raven haired Slytherin who held her in his arms had developed into a full blown crush, and as the clock ticked closer to midnight she found herself wondering, but above all hoping, that he would kiss her at midnight.
"Enjoying yourself?" Blaise asked as they moved in time to a slow song that had started playing. Ginny raised her head from where she had allowed it to rest on his shoulder and stared up into his royal blue eyes.
"I am, thankyou for asking me to be your date" she smiled.
"Thankyou for agreeing to it" Blaise replied with a small smile.
"Its eleven fifty nine everyone, one minute before we welcome the new year!" Dumbledore suddenly called out.
"I've had a good time tonight Blaise, better even than I thought I would" Ginny confessed as she raised her head and looked into his eyes again.
"Does that mean that I have your permission to kiss you at midnight?" Blaise asked softly.
"It does" Ginny replied in a whisper, for once not playing hard to get.
"TEN!" the count began and Blaise smirked as he pulled her closer.
"NINE" Ginny raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck.
"EIGHT" Blaise lowered his head and placed his forehead against hers.
"SEVEN" Ginny tightened her arms and shifted her body closer to his.
"SIX" the two of them continued to sway to the music that was still playing in the background.
"FIVE" Blaise shifted one hand to lay across the small of her back.
"FOUR" Ginny began to play with the hair at the nape of his neck.
"THREE" Blaise moved his other hand to cup the back of her head.
"TWO" Ginny threaded her hands through his hair, caressing his scalp.
"ONE" they pulled apart slightly as Blaise lowered his head, his lips hovering above hers. Ginny raised onto her toes in anticipation
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!" the shout was heard and Blaise gently placed his lips against hers, kissing her deeply as Ginny automatically opened her mouth to grant him access.
Across the hall Ron's vision turned red as he saw Blaise and Ginny kissing. He made to storm over there to break them apart and punch Blaise, when a restraining hand was placed on his forearm. Thinking it was Harry he turned with a scowl only to be met with the fierce expression on his mother's face.
"Don't you dare even think about it Ronald Weasley!" Molly hissed to her son.
"But Mum! He's a Slytherin!" Ron protested.
"And a polite young man! Ginny introduced him to your father and I earlier in the night!" Molly responded swiftly.
"You can't seriously approve of that!" Ron stated incredulously waving his hand at the still kissing couple.
"And why not?" Arthur asked his son.
"She's too young for that type of thing!" Ron snapped.
"Watch your tone Ronald! And I was the same age as Ginny when I met your father! He is doing nothing inappropriate, nor is your sister protesting! It is her decision and her life so butt out of it! And if I hear that you have threatened or warned him in any way, much less attacked him then there will be severe consequences young man! Do you understand me?" Molly growled lowly. Ron gulped but stared mutinously at his mother.
"Yes Mum" he answered reluctantly.
Jane and Henry Granger stared around them in awe, never in their wildest dreams had they imagined that they would ever be a part of something like this in the magical world that their daughter called her own. As they watched Hermione swaying to the music in Draco's arms and witnessed their kiss at midnight, their fears that their daughter was becoming lost to them and their role in her life diminishing were laid to rest. They knew, no matter that Hermione would choose the wizarding world to live in permanently, they would be welcomed warmly even though they themselves carried no magic in their blood. Smiling serenely, Henry pulled his wife onto the dance floor and joined in all the couples who were dancing to celebrate the dawning of a new year.
There you go, hope you enjoyed the Ginny/Blaise action and hopefully the next chapter won't be too far away
please review i feel all special when i get one :D no flames plz, i'm still tough on my work, tougher than anyone else could be i believe.