A ball at the Vie with an all white theme. How original.
Hermione knew the dresses most witches would wear tonight would resemble wedding dresses, and men in their dress robes or muggle suits would look like grooms. She was already used to the wedding themed decorations that came on May the 2nd. She worked on relaxing, giving way to her whimsy, if not just for one night of fun. Why not just enjoy this and be with Teddy; get to know him?
A new friend, someone with connections to the library, someone who definitely wasn't hounding her on her stance on marriage, or asking for her hand in marriage. She could go to the ball at the Vie because this seemed like a rare opportunity to make a friend.
That's how she masked the butterflies in her stomach as she swirled her hair up with her wand in delicate loops before tightening them. Then she carefully pinned her hair down with pearl tipped pins so that they snuggled into the dips of her hair and shone delicately, shimmering iridescent A tight wavy strand, sleek and shiny, hung to just between her shoulder blades, brushing her back gently.
Pearls were the perfect accent for her dress. She slipped into it feeling the temperature regulating charm work and warm her comfortably. She stepped into her flats because if she was going to dance with Teddy, she intended to remain upright.
Hermione glanced at herself in the mirror to ensure everything was holding their place and that nothing was askew, but she didn't linger too long on herself because she wanted to fight off the wave of guilt for giving in and enjoying the thought of dancing. Dancing and the idea that the ball was most definitely a way for Zabini to find matches for his friends. Or maybe it was less that and more about fun.
That depended on the decor choices.
Her parents beamed at her as she came down the staircase and her mother quickly snapped a photo with a disposable film camera.
"Mom!" Hermione said in surprise at the flash, blinking quickly to rid her eyesight off the blank space in her vision.
"Sorry honey, I saw the dress when you were making it and it's just- I had to get a photo of you in it!" her mother said. "Before you had to alter it for another event, I mean."
"Okay, how about dad take one with you and me, then?" Hermione said gently. Her mother beamed. With a little bit of magic, she managed to snap a photo with both her parents lovingly looking at her, after doing photos with one parent each. She would cherish these moments because of the fear that she had lost them or them, her, had never truly left, even after the end of the war. She tucked her wand in a pocket along the skirt that was made to hold it snuggly and safely against her.
She glanced back at them as she walked down the driveway and to the park where she could safely apparate to the Burrow where she and Ginny would then travel to the Vie together.
But mainly because Ginny wanted to be the first to see her dress.
Hermione felt the yank loosen behind her navel as the world spun into view and she stood atop the hill and surveyed the Burrow. It had begun to feel a little like she was watching it on a television screen and she yearned to be with them, but couldn't because of a barrier called Ron.
Ginny was already approaching her in a white shimmering silk dress that hugged her every curve. The black and green of her bra peeked through sneakily when the wind pulled the dress one way and then another. Hermione made a point to stare at Ginny's chest and raise her eyebrows. Ginny laughed, her hair whipping around her face. The night was cool, but Hermione suspected that Ginny at least had her own magically imbued dress, seeing as it was paid for by someone who had the money for it.
Her coppery hair looked like an elf from Middle Earth styled it, with intricate ropes of hair twining in and out of each other and everything held into place by three pins that had woven patterns that mimicked her hair. She wore a shimmery champagne colour on her eyelids, that even in the dark, glowed in the moonlight. Her dress had a slit that rose to her mid thigh where Hermione could see a black and green lace garter nestled on her leg.
It was a lot and somehow, it felt like Ginny was having the time of her life. It occurred to Hermione that Harry had a part to play in how Ginny was behaving. A show for him, kind of. She wondered if Harry would come and hoped for his sake he didn't.
After Ginny had stopped laughing as Hermione's teased her various dress and accessory choices, Ginny stood back and surveyed Hermione.
"You outdid yourself, Granger." Ginny said after walking around her and pulling at her skirt. "But it's so long, and it's a nice shape but I want to see your legs. Don't you want to match with me?" She grinned wickedly at Hermione while revealing her leg and a little of the garter through the slit in her dress.
"I'm wearing the stupid garter you sent, so I think that's enough matching. But where'd you get this?" Hermione said, touching the Knut sized emerald at her throat. Ginny studied it.
"I didn't send that."
"What? Then who's is from?" Hermione said. She lifted her arms, reaching for the bow at the back to remove it, but Ginny stopped her. "Do you think it's Teddy? What about Zabini, would he do this as a joke?" Ginny shook her head.
"Leave it, you have all this magic going on and it suits it just fine. How'd you get those water drops at the end of your skirt to just stay there?" Ginny asked. She bent to touch it then Hermione heard a rip.
"What did you do!" Hermione pulled away and looked down, her entire right leg exposed.
"There we go, all better now." Ginny said, Hermione could see her smile even as she stood over her. "Let me stitch up the loose threads."
"I am not going looking like this." Hermione said.
"What, looking attractive? Come on Hermione, be a tease. We all know you don't want to marry anyone, but what's the harm in loosening up and having fun?" Ginny asked in a fiery voice, the one she used to amp up her team before a Quidditch match. She understood what Ginny was saying, she wanted to have fun with Ginny too, and for a second, she looked down at her leg and the little white garter peeking through and she caved.
"Okay." Hermione said. "But if I feel too uncomfortable, I'm mending it."
"Fair." Ginny said. "This off the shoulder look like familiar. Altered another dress? I swear I never see your back because your hair is always loose. You look nice with it up."
"Thanks, the drops are beads by the way. Bewitched to resemble rain drops and to hover about one to three centimeters from the fabric."
"How complicated was that?" Ginny asked, her eyebrows going up in surprise.
"Not very." Hermione glanced at the Burrow that glowed warmly at the base of the hill. "Is anyone else coming?"
"George, Charlie. Maybe Bill and Fleur if Victoire isn't too much of a bother." Ginny said. She didn't address Ron, and Hermione took that as answer enough.
"Are we ready to go? Done making your alterations Ms Designer?" Hermione teased. She linked her elbows into Ginny's and Ginny grinned broadly.
"Let's."
With another yank behind her bellybutton, the girls arrived at the apparition point near the Vie. They quickly got out of the way as others were also appearing around them in sharp cracks. Once they had walked about ten feet away, the sound of the cracks were completely muffled by a silencing charm that acted as a barrier to the muggle world.
It was a short walk across the sidewalk and to the Vie, but Hermione wondered how they looked to Muggles, all dressed in white and making a beeline for a massive hotel.
There was probably more magic outside too. Hermione made a mental note to research that.
They entered the lobby. A flash lit up the space and Hermione ignored it, aware that the Prophet would be here.
Relief washed over her as her eyes took in the decorations around her. It wasn't decorated like a wedding at all. But instead, what looked to be fairy lights glittered and fluttered through the air like moving fireworks, with a bare feel theme of wooden surfaces, branches and naked trees as ornaments and what looked like moss, the dangling kind, was hanging in choice parts of the room. This led all the way into the ballroom.
It felt like they walked into a forest in the middle of autumn, and Hermione relaxed. It was just like the Forest of Dean. Before long, Ginny had disengaged Hermione and joined Zabini, so Hermione walked along the walls and surveyed the room. All the little bits of magic that clung to various items intrigued her, and all her friends were gorgeous and already mostly paired off and mingling.
People who recognised her greeted her from across the floor or with little waves. The Patel twins looked a vision in white Indian wear, long jeweled veils hanging from their jet black hair. Hannah Abott looked classically dressed in a floor length, heart neckline, shimmery dress. The men looked like their regular selves with the exception of a few who had charmed their clothes to glint or its patterns to move.
Zabini's tall dark frame with Ginny's fiery hair that shone copper in the fairy lights were easy to spot in the sea of people. And with them was Malfoy, all she could make out of him was his white blond hair and that he was wearing white. His eyes flickered up to her and she looked away, stepping out of his view. She scanned and greeted and walked and looked.
But she couldn't find Teddy. Two rotations around the room, it was well past the arrival time for the ball and the ballroom felt at capacity, but he wasn't there.
A hand touched her gently on her waist and Hermione looked up excitedly. A pair of green eyes behind familiar round glasses met hers and she grinned.
"Harry, you came!" she said, leaning into him and hugging him. She ignored another flash that lit her eyelids to bright red, Harry didn't even blink.
"I haven't seen you in a while. I thought it would be nice to catch up." Harry said, resting his cheek to her hair. "Do you want to dance with me?"
Hermione cast a glance around the room one more time for Teddy and then smiled at Harry and pulled him to the ballroom floor.
"Harry, I'm sorry about Cho." Hermione said as they stepped and swayed, her hands on his shoulders and his on her waist. Harry gave her a small smile.
"I knew she and I weren't meant to make it to the end anyway. I'm happy for her. How do you feel about Viktor?" Harry asked. Hermione felt the heat rise from her chest to her neck and to her cheeks. She wondered how red she had gotten.
"So I kind of maybe slept with him." Hermione said quickly. Harry's eyes opened very slightly but he kept his expression unmoving.
"Oh, how was he?" Harry asked, attempting to tease. Hermione there back her head with a cackle at his effort and Harry turned his head as he burst out laughing.
"Apparently the wanker was going to tell me that he was engaged to Cho before it came out in the Prophet. But - stuff - happened, and then I found out afterward and I think I never want to see him again." Hermione said. Harry listened and nodded.
"Cho told me her parents were arranging something, so I guess he was the lucky bloke." Harry said. "Sorry it ended that way though. Do you need me to hurt him?"
"Just beat him in Quidditch if you ever play again." Hermione said. Harry grinned and squeezed her waist slightly as they spun for the last time at the end of the song.
"I might head home because I don't think I can bear it." Harry said. He and Hermione had walked to the walls and out of the dancing couples waiting for the start of the next song, and Harry's eyes followed one couple in particular. "She looks happy though." Hermione watched his eyes following Ginny who was oblivious to being observed so closely. Harry inhaled deeply. "Is she?"
Hermione started at being asked so directly. "I don't know. She's different, so the most I can do is keep an eye on her." Harry nodded. Hermione leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. "You take care of yourself Harry. And could you respond to my owls? It would be nice to know that you're not dead."
Harry smiled and nodded. He hugged her tightly and Hermione let his fingers slip from hers as he weaved through the crowd and disappeared. Harry's wild hair had barely disappeared before someone came up behind her.
"Hermy-nin."
Hermione spun around.
"Viktor." she said, and she looked up at him, her expression stoney. The sound of a flash went off behind her, she flinched.
"Are you vith Potter now?" he asked, jerking his head in the direction Harry had disappeared.
"I don't believe you get to ask that." she said firmly. She hardened her expression as she tried to exude as much anger as she could through her eyes. "I have to find Ginny, so if you can ex -" Cho came up behind Viktor and slipped her hand into his, Viktor's shoulders tensed. Hermione's mind blanked before her mouth automatically spoke, to her relief.
"Congratulations Cho."
"Thank you! He's wonderful, isn't he?" she said. Cho wore a beautiful gown that had lace flowers decorating the entire length, and Hermione almost laughed at how much they resembled a bride and groom standing before her.
"He's one of a kind Cho, I wish you two all the happiness." Hermione said. And before she was roped into a longer conversation, she walked back to the lobby for fresh air, away from stares and murmurs that Hermione thought her brain was most likely inventing.
"Hey, you." Ginny said as Hermione stared out a window near a fireplace. Her breath had fogged up the glass and something about magic not being present there kind of warmed her. It felt very Muggle of the Vie, considering the entire hotel was magically imbued.
"Hey." Hermione said.
"I have this potion, since I know you don't drink." Ginny hesitated. "If you're interested." In her hands was a tiny vial of bright yellow liquid.
"I feel like euphoria would overdo it, don't you?" Hermione said.
"Listen, I saw Krum and Cho, and I know something happened because you're being weird, plus Theo didn't show. So I thought this could help you, because please Hermione, I want you to have fun tonight!" Ginny said. Hermione sighed, fogging up the window panes even more before she turned to Ginny and leaned against the windowsill.
"Can I smell it?" Hermione asked. Ginny gave it to her, she uncorked it and sniffed it. It had all the tell-tale signs of being the Elixir to Induce Euphoria, but it was milder, definitely minty.
"Where'd you get this?" Hermione asked.
"You think I don't do things for recreational fun, Granger?" Ginny asked.
"So this is a drug?" Hermione asked. "From some sort of dispensary?"
"No. I mean, it's just a slightly altered tradtional potion so it's more mellow and it's not alcohol. No hangover. Come on Granger." Ginny said sweetly. Hermione looked down at her leg that went cold with a draft through the open door. The garter peeked and her confidence swelled as she felt comfortable in her own skin.
"Fine. I can't wallow on Krum and Teddy and all the other men in life that suck." Hermione said. And without giving herself a moment to hesitate, she gulped back the potion that was half a mouthful. Warmth spread to her fingertips and the effects felt similar to Felix Felices. Everything was suddenly okay.
"Okay let's go!" Ginny said. And she held Hermione's hand in her own and pulled her back into the ballroom where the dancing had reduced to a jumble of bodies on the dancefloor for the less traditional song being played by the orchestra.
Ginny pulled her into the crowd and she somehow found Zabini in the jumble of bodies, and they danced. Hermione let her eyes unfocus and refocus on the fairy lights above as she moved with the music and listened to Ginny's laughter, Zabini's smooth voice, and how gently he addressed Ginny even in the excitement. When the song was over, Ginny pulled both Hermione and Zabini to the side and collapsed on one of the chairs that were gradually appearing along the walls as the night went on.
Hermione drank water from a glass that was suddenly filled and looked around, trying to catch her breath. Her eyes skimmed the crowd as she looked for more familiar faces but they were all just a blur of white dresses, and black or white dress robes and suits.
"Are you looking for someone?" Zabini asked. Ginny smacked his arm and he smiled at Ginny with a softness in his eyes that would have warmed Hermione all over.
"Yes. Maybe you know if he came?" Hermione said, not embarrassed to ask. "Teddy. Theo Nott. He was supposed to meet me here."
"We sent him the invitation, but he never RSVP'd." Zabini said as he took a gulp of water from his sweating glass. Hermione snacked on chips that had appeared in a serving basket in the middle of the table.
"Oh." Hermione said. Disappointment would have crept through her if she hadn't had the potion; now she had confirmation she wouldn't be seeing him tonight. Why would he get her a jewel to wear and not show up to see it on her neck? Doubts on if it were Teddy who gave it to her seeped in. Zabini didn't acknowledge it and Ginny would have told her.
So which Slytherin wanted to see her in it?
"Gin, come on, I love this one." Zabini said and he sprung to his feet and dragged Ginny back to the ballroom floor. Hermione watched them as she turned over the information in her head. She really had gotten attached to the idea of Teddy quickly. Was she so lonely that she needed another friend, or so hurt by Viktor that she needed someone else?
Shaking her head, she smiled. She was Hermione Granger. She didn't need anyone more than those she already had. And at that moment, someone sat beside her.
"Hey, I've been looking for you." Neville said, leaning forward by placing his elbows on the table.
"Hi, Neville!" Hermione said with a little too much gusto. Then she remembered his letter. "Shit, I didn't save you the first two dances."
"Don't worry about it. That, as you may have guessed, was at the insistence of my gran. Who I then had a fight with tonight because I really feel like I shouldn't be doing this especially since we both don't want it. But you're my friend, and I didn't want to stand you up." Neville said. He reached for her hand and squeezed it gently. Hermione smiled.
"Someone's here for you, I'm sure." Hermione said. "You deserve happiness."
"Do you want to dance anyway?" Neville asked, his eyes roaming the room and Hermione could see the longing in them at the couples who were swishing across the floor.
"Yes! Let's go." Hermione said. Neville remained sitting having not registered what she said, so she grasped his hand and pulled him to the ballroom floor. With the help of the potion and Neville's obvious talent for dancing, Hermione had a brilliant time. Her stomach filled with a happy warmth and her face hurt from laughing and smiling.
A dull ache formed in the soles of her feet and she waved to Neville that she was going to sit while he was pulled by a witch Hermione didn't recognise into another dance, a broad smile on his face. At least Neville was having fun too.
Ginny found her at a side table and sat panting, a small sheen on her forehead from her extended dancing. A couple started arguing behind them and Ginny looked at Hermione and they both burst out laughing for no apparent reason. The elixir probably, and Ginny's alcohol intake for the night. They both melted into their seats in a fit of giggles.
"Granger."
Still laughing, she looked up to the owner of the voice. Hermione's giggles stopped abruptly. She hiccuped.
"Dra- hic - Malfoy." Hermione said. Was I about to say Draco? Hermione fought a giggle again.
"Dance the next two with me." he said. It wasn't a question.
"Sure." she said. And Malfoy retreated into the sea of bodies. Hermione turned to Ginny. "What the fuck did I just do?"
Ginny laughed and squeezed Hermione's hand.
"He's nice, I swear. It won't be bad." Ginny said.
"Teddy's told me things that really makes me feel justified in continuing to dislike him." Hermione said.
"Whatever Theo's said about him isn't the truth! Not until you hear his side. Ask him about it while you're dancing." Ginny said. "I swear, he's nice and the dance won't be bad."
"I don't expect it to be, I'm intoxicated on whatever that potion was." Hermione said.
"Good!" Ginny said. She got to her feet and pushed Hermione. "Go get 'im!"
Hermione feigned a groan and walked to the edge of the ballroom floor as couples lined up across from each other for one of the more complicated dances. Hermione relied heavily on the potion for a lift in her confidence, because she wasn't sure if she remembered the steps correctly.
Finally she found Malfoy standing tall in white dress robes with a silk white shirt that gleamed in the overhead lighting. He looked like he was glowing under the fairy lights and chandeliers because he was so pale and his white blond hair reflected and shimmered. His face was calm, still, and his eyes remained on her face.
They stepped together at the start of the music and his hand ghosted her waist without making contact her as they turned and stepped away again.
How kind of him to keep his distance, Hermione thought ruefully.
"We're having nice weather." he said. Hermione wanted to laugh but expelled air from her nose instead. He was talking about the weather.
"Yes, indeed. It's not raining, so that's rare." Hermione said.
"Are you having a good night?" Malfoy asked, his voice light, but his eyebrows coming together very slightly.
"I am, it's not been bad at all. No unwanted propositions or anything disastrous." Hermione said.
"Krum is engaged, I assume he kept his unwanted propositions to himself."
Hermione stumbled. She regained her footing quickly and looked up in time to see the back of Malfoy's head as he turned and when she saw his face again, he was expressionless. Eyes cold, fixed on her eyes without a flicker of distraction.
"I managed to talk Blaise out of having a wedding-themed ballroom." Malfoy said. Hermione didn't know how she was supposed to contribute to the conversation. She was still reeling from his acknowledgment of seeing her that night. The potion fought any embarrassment she expected to feel and instead she danced, tightness in her stomach winding the longer they stepped and turned around each other, like predators circling.
"Do you often talk to your dancing partners, Malfoy?" Hermione asked as she stepped around him and turned again to face him.
"I don't dance." Malfoy said. He was graceful, he certainly had dancing lessons. "Not often, and not with people I don't know well enough."
"I suppose you know me better now than you ever had before." Hermione said, musing to herself mostly but knowing he would hear her. His eyes flickered but he didn't lose pace or his step.
"Do you often go to Diagon Alley?" he asked after a moment of silence, the music loud in their silence.
"I do, for the library. It's an invaluable source of entertainment and knowledge. In fact, Teddy had offered to let me make suggestions of how to improve it, with his family being part of the funding and all." Hermione said. Malfoy's mouth twitched.
"Theo has such great manners, I'm sure he gets along well with new acquaintances." Malfoy said. The song ended and Hermione had no chance to retort at the jab Malfoy just delivered.
Her mind had gone blank because the second song required physical contact, and Hermione raised her arms to his shoulders. He was warm and the smell of ink and parchment, something earthy and of old magic filled her airspace, encompassing her and warming her to her toes. She blushed, unsure if this was an effect of the potion or her half acknowledged loneliness. Malfoy's hands barely weighed on her waist and back and when the music started, they didn't grasp at her. Hermione's skin under his palms tingled and she began to feel frustrated, that with every turn and twirl, he didn't touch her.
It was infuriating. Even after all his efforts, if this dance could be called an effort, he was still repulsed by her, couldn't touch her.
But a lift was coming and he would have to. She braced herself for his fingers against her waist and when he lifted her, fingers curling under her last rib at the smallest part of her waist, she gasped and braced herself on his shoulders before she met the ground again and stumbled. Malfoy steadied her, his hand splayed across her stomach to stop her from falling forward.
His eyes glanced down, his cheeks turned a splotchy pink. Hermione glanced down and realised her leg had found the slit and was entirely out, the garter peeking slyly. He must have seen it. Damn you, Gin , Hermione said. She looked up to apologize, tucking her leg away but found Malfoy's eyes at her throat on the green emerald.
"I see you're not averse to all Slytherins." Malfoy's lips pressed into a hard line.
"I'm not sure what you mean." Hermione said, her hand coming up to her throat to touch the smooth stone. Malfoy stepped back into the dance as though they hadn't stopped and Hermione followed.
"You have an admirer." Malfoy said. "You don't know who that belongs to?"
"I do not." Hermione said. It was the truth but she hoped it was Teddy nevertheless. She'd have to write to him to ask.
"Amusing, that he sends you here wearing something of his while he isn't brave enough to show his face." Malfoy said. His voice had gone dark, and it made Hermione shiver from its coldness.
"Who?" Hermione asked, though now she thought she had her confirmation.
"Nott."
"It's a shame you've lost his friendship." Hermione said.
"A big shame indeed." Malfoy answered shortly.
"And it's irreversible, what he did is so bad that you don't see the irony?" Hermione said. They halted in their dance in the middle of the dancefloor, a flash going off that they both ignored. Both their eyes locked in a duel that no one else could see.
"Why are you asking me this?" Malfoy said. He looked down at her, his frame looming before her but she straightened her shoulders and faced him.
"I'm trying to get to know you, of course."
"And what have you learned about me so far, Granger?"
"Not much, Malfoy. I've heard many varying things about you and I can't form a solid opinion."
"I'll endeavour to be clearer in the future."
Magic crackled in the air around them, Hermione could feel it on her skin, like static pulling at her hair and mimicking goosebumps. It had to be Malfoy, but his face remained fixed in a focused mask as he kept his eyes on her face and away again until the end of the dance. When the music ended, he gave a small bow, inclining his chin, turned abruptly, and disappeared into the cluster of white and black, his white blond hair melding into the crowd.
Hermione tried to find Ginny and when she failed, she walked to the lobby to get fresh air away from the warm bodies. She broke through into the night and inhaled the cold air into her lungs. It was just enough to clear her mind of a jumble of emotions and she returned to the lobby, and almost stumbled into Malfoy. He didn't look at her and strolled through a doorway Hermione didn't know.
Probably the bar.
"Hey," Hermione turned around. It was Neville, he had followed her from the ballroom. "Did he hurt you? What was that about?"
"No, he didn't hurt me." Hermione said, her hands up, palms open to waive him off and show she was alright. She was defending Malfoy. This night couldn't be any weirder. "We're being forced to get along because our best mates are practically married."
"Zabini and Ginny?" Neville asked. He brushed his now tussle hair back from his forehead in a smooth stroke and stared at the entryway to the room Malfoy had disappeared into. Malfoy was already returning, Neville strode forward before Hermione could grasp his arm and stop him.
"Malfoy. You stay away from her, you hear?" he said. Hermione felt the blood drain from her face. The night could get weirder.
"Neville, what are you doing?" she said weakly. Malfoy stared at Neville. His eyes flickered to Hermione who was standing just behind Neville, hiding. Hermione pleaded with her eyes to no one in particular for this confrontation to end.
"Fuck off, Longbottom. Stay out of things you don't understand." Malfoy said. It had less venom than Hermione was used to from him, a firm authoritative statement, but it seemed to have stung Neville with the same force.
"You upset her again and you answer to me." Neville said. His shoulders squared and the firmness of his voice made Hermione flush with pride. He had come a long way from standing up to Harry, Ron and herself when they were eleven. And this was Malfoy. She reached forward and tugged at Neville's sleeve. He looked over his shoulder to her and when he glanced back, Malfoy disappeared.
"Thanks, Neville. You didn't have to do that, I swear." Hermione said.
"I never liked the guy. So it was my pleasure." Neville said with a smile. If he was nervous or intimidated at all, he didn't show it. Hermione grinned at him and they walked back into the ballroom.
Somehow, everyone was there all of a sudden. Zabini was dancing wildly with George and Charlie, Neville joined them and Ginny was giggling on the sidelines at the sight of them. Hermione grabbed her and they spun to the music. All slow couples' dances for the night were over and the crowd had permanently devolved into the atmosphere of an all out mini concert.
The fairy lights had dimmed and the band had found a singer. Hermione giggled through all the dancing with Ginny and she forgot her conversation with Malfoy.
Finally, when the potion had begun to wear off and the soles of her feet ached to the point that they couldn't be ignored, Hermione tugged at Ginny and half shouted into her ear that she was going home.
Ginny nodded and pulled her into a swaying hug that was accompanied by a long slew of thank yous and I hope you had funs . Hermione thanked Neville for being a gentleman, kissed him on his cheek and waved goodbye to everyone else. She wove through the crowd and broke into the quiet of the lobby.
She patted her skirt to find the pocket she had made to tuck her wand and she looked up.
Malfoy was pressed against a wall, entwined with a woman who wasn't in white, and her straight long hair reached the base of her back. His mouth was plastered to hers and Hermione stilled, scared to be discovered.
His grey eyes snapped open and found her, Hermione's breath caught in her chest. She swallowed. He stared at her, not breaking his kiss. Hermione couldn't breathe. He reached up to the woman's dark long hair and pulled firmly, releasing his mouth from hers. He blinked, looked away from Hermione, and then pulled the woman behind him into a lift. Hermione never saw her face.
Her stomach boiled and her chest tightened. How dare he say those things to her and imply anything about her behaviour when he was blatantly doing the same.
And who was the woman?