Your Joking Right?
Chapter 17: A Historical Hogsmeade Day
The Following afternoon Hermione set off with Harry and Ron to their seventh year Herbology class, Hermione snuggled into her jacket but none-the-less smiled at the cool winter breeze, she was lost in thought. Being Head Girl meant planning the Annual 'Hogwarts Christmas Ball' and she had a lot to do. Blaise was not much help, but Draco and Ginny on the other hand, were. The only problem they had yet to overcome was the theme, whether it should be casual or dress up formal, Draco, of course, wanted a good old-fashioned casual dance, and Hermione wanted an elegant ball, Ginny remained indifferent. The three had argued about this previously as Blaise played with his wand, making Ginny's hair stand on end, they had yet to come to a decision, and Hermione was thoroughly annoyed, she was always on time.
"What's on your mind Mione?" Ron asked, curiously glancing at his friend.
"Oh nothing really, its just the Christmas Ball, its next Sunday and we have yet to decide on a theme, any suggestions?" she asked hopefully.
"Well, what are you shooting for?" Harry asked.
"Casual or Formal"
"Casual definitely" both boys grinned.
"Oh no, just a formal dance, as always" said a voice.
Hermione turned to find Neville Longbottom rushing after them, he caught up to the trio, and slowed down, clutching a stitch in his side, clearly out of breath.
"My thoughts exactly" Hermione smiled.
"Oh come on Hermione, a casual dance would be so much more fun" Harry said.
"Oh but I love the dressy dances, there gorgeous" she gushed.
"I like seeing the girls in their dresses" Ron smirked, which caused Hermione to shoot him an icy glare and stomp the rest of the way to greenhouse 6.
"Yeah, me too" Neville piped up. Ron and Harry sent him 'yeah, sure...' looks, which caused Neville to turn beat red, yell "I do like girls you know" in front of a bunch of Slytherin's, including Malfoy, who sniggered at him, and he too stomped off in Hermione's wake.
"Not to friendly today are they?" Ron asked, looking ahead at the path he had just seen 2 of his friends take off on in an angry manner.
"Not at all" Harry grinned.
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In Herbology Hermione had decided to forgive Ron and there-for partnered with them for that days lesson. It was un-coincidental, Hermione assumed, the Draco and Blaise ended up across from her, she had to surpress quite a few laughs when Blaise had done an impression of Ron getting wacked in the face by a Venomous Tentacula. It had been quite a fun lesson, that afternoon.
Hermione met up with Ginny out under the oak tree for lunch, to further discuss the ball seeing as her 'partner' was quite uncapable of siting still for more then five minutes.
"I brought sandwiches" Hermione grinned as she took a seat next to the red-head who was already seated under the large tree. Ginny grinned,
"I brought apple juice"
Hermione took a bite of her sandwich and stared at Ginny, who she noticed looked a little odd.
"What's up Gin?" Hermione asked, spraying her with bits of sandwich.
"Ugh, say it, not spray it" both girls laughed.
"So anyways," Hermione said, wiping her mouth with a napkin "What's up?"
"Oh nothing really, I got a letter from Mum today, Bill and Fleur had a daughter" Ginny said, smiling.
"That's awesome" Hermione said, excited. "What did they name her?"
"Courtney" Ginny grimaced, "I hate it, bet you anything Phlegm picked it out"
"I think its cute" Hermione replied.
"I guess"
Hermione looked at her watch, it was almost time for classes again.
"Well we better get going" she told Ginny.
Both girls stood and brushed off their robes then said goodbye, Ginny took off in the directions of Hagrid's Hut for Care of Magical Creatures whereas Hermione left for Charms. Not much had been accomplished regarding the Ball.
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It was almost time for bed and yet Hermione was going through her wardrobe, looking for an outfit to wear on the Hogsmeade trip with Draco tomorrow. She knew Mr. Perfect would look, well, perfect, and she wanted to look good to. She had reached the back of the closet when she felt her hands slide over a vaguely familiar piece of material, she grabbed the outfit out by the hanger and examined it. Her eyes ran across the cut and color of her pink Yule Ball outfit from back in fourth year. She smiled at the mere memory of her date, Viktor Krum, whom she still communicated with by owl.
"I should probably write him back" she said, walking over to her desk and grabbing her signature parchment and quill, she also grabbed her color changing ink, Viktor had said he had liked it in one of his earlier letters.
Dear Viktor,
How is everything going? I am so terribly sorry it takes me so long to reply, im soo busy, seventh year of course. I made Head Girl! I don't remember if I told you that yet or not. How are things with you? Im sorry to here that your Quidditch Team lost there match, im not big on organized quidditch, its fun to play though. Anyways, I have got to go, study as usual. Write back when you get the chance.
Always,
Hermione
Hermione signed off the letter and exited the portrait hole, heading for the owlery. She remembered when Viktor had asked her to the Yule Ball, she had been sitting in the library, ear-plugs in so she could block out the noise of the love-sick girls drooling over Viktor, and she felt a tap on her shoulder and looked up to find Mr. Popularity looking down at her. It was quite funny that out of all the girls at Hogwarts and the ones from Beauxbatons, that he had chosen plain and simple Hermione. He had really surprised her in the end, she had truly liked him a lot.
She reached the Owlery, and pushed open the door.
"Ahh, watch it!" came a voice from the other side.
"Oh im so terribly sor-, Draco!"
"Hermione?" said the blonde who was currently rubbing his red nose.
"What are you doing up here?" she asked, examining the damage she had inflicted on him.
"I was sending a letter, now I think I have to go get my nose examined" he said, cooly, but jokingly.
"Oh come her you big baby" she said a simple spell and healed his nose then sent her letter off with her owl.
"Heading back to the common room?" he asked her.
"I have patrol duty tonight" she replied, back to him, as she watched her owl fly off in the distance.
"Maybe I will patrol tonight" he smiled a sly grin.
"Maybe you should" Hermione said, leaning back onto his chest.
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The next morning Hermione woke up extremely early and extremely excited, today was her Hogsmeade date with Draco. Hermione took a quick shower and wasn't surprised to find Ginny wide awake and rummaging through her closet.
"You know, of all the clothes I own, I have nothing to wear" she sighed.
"Oh move over" Hermione said, shoving Ginny out of the way and continuing the rummaging of her friends closet until she pulled out a black sparkly top and dark jeans. "Add a little silver eyeshadow and lots of eye liner and you'll look amazing" she said, walking over to her closet now.
"You should be a fashion designer Hermione" Ginny grinned as she changed into her outfit, and, as Hermione said, it looked amazing on her.
"Oh honestly Gin, Me, one of those snooty Rita Skeeter like people" she laughed. Hermione changed into a blue corset top and pair of dark blue jeans, adding a silver belt and puffy white coat, it is winter after all, she then applied blue eyeshadow, glitter, and curled and put white glitter in her hair, a little over- done, but hey, this was Draco Malfoy she was going out with.
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The girl's met Blaise and Draco outside of the Great Hall, it was apparent that while they had ben getting ready, the guy's had been eating.
"Are you ladies ready for a fun day in Hogsmeade?" said Blaise, positively ecstatic as he skipped out of the castle
"What did he eat for breakfast?" Hermione asked Draco.
"Oh, you know, the usual, a little sugared-down coffee, a cinnamon roll, anything that contains excessive amounts of sugar." he smirked.
"I totally believe it" she laughed as she watched Ginny chase after Blaise.
"Where to first?" Ginny asked when th other two had caught up with her and her rather energetic boyfriend.
"Definitely not Hon-..." Draco started.
"Honeydukes" Blaise yelled, taking off full speed toward the candy shop.
"Honeydukes it is" Ginny muttered to Hermione, who laughed.
As soon as they entered the shop even Hermione couldn't complain about th warmth and sweet smell of the tiny shop,
"Im gonna go look at these" she pointed to the sugar coated quills.
"Im off to get a few chocolate frogs for Luna, she got sick" Ginny smiled.
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The four split up into two, the girls, and the guys, while the guys went to look at Quidditch supplies, the girls, went dress shopping. Ginny had dragged Hermione into the back pathway and to a little shop on the outer edge of the village called 'Fantasy'.
"Where are we Gin?" Hermione asked, peering at the shop.
"At this new shop, I've only been in here once with Parvati, its amazing the dresses they have here" Ginny smiled and pulled her friend through the door.
Hermione stopped as soon as she got into the store, she couldn't believe her eyes, there were tons of her fellow Hogwarts students here, mostly girls, and as she scanned her eyes around the room, she noticed there were a lot of gorgeous dresses to.
"Wow, Gin, this is... amazing"
"I no..." Ginny said, heading over to the dresses, "I think im going to get a white one this time"
Ginny had found a dress in no time, it was a long white dress with a V-neck and glitter along the top, Hermione had found a dress fairly easily also, with a little help from Parvati Patil, it was a long silver dress with a halter top and sequins lining the top and bottom.
"Wow, Draco is going to love the color" Ginny grinned, as they exited the store.
"I no, that's partly why I got it"
Next they went to an accessory shop, Ginny bought a white handbag with matching gloves, Hermione bout a small tiara and gloves. Then they went to a jewelry shop where they each bought a matching pair of earrings and necklaces to go with their dresses.
"Wow, now im tired" Hermione laughed.
"Let's go get a butterbeer" Ginny smiled.
"Sounds good to me"
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The girls enter the Three Broomsticks only to find 2 guys waiting for them in a booth by the window.
"Wow, I must say, you guys are good" Hermione smirked as she scooted in the bench next to Draco.
"Yeah we know" he smirked, putting an arm on Hermione's shoulder.
"Where have you ladies been its been... hours" Blaise said, looking at his watch.
"Shopping, I am a girl" Ginny giggled.
"Are you really?"
"How dare you" she smiled, hitting him on the shoulder.
"Ow, what was that for?"
"Gee I wonder"
"Are you thirsty Draco?" Hermione asked, getting up from her booth.
"No, but I suddenly fancy a walk, meet you two up at the castle later" Draco said, smirking at Blaise and following his girlfriend out of the door.
"Where do you wanna go?" Hermione asked, linking arms with Draco as they headed up the main road of Hogsmeade.
"Anywhere you want" he grinned.
"You got it" she laughed, running up the path of the small village, leaving a bewildered Draco string after her retreating form. "You coming?" she turned and grinned at him.
Draco quickly caught up to Hermione as she stood under the gates back to Hogwarts. "You want to go back already?" he asked.
"Yep" she smiled.
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Hermione collapsed onto the couch as she reached the Head's Room, soon joined by Draco who landed on the opposite side of the couch.
"What was the point of that Mione, want me to lose a few pounds?" he asked.
Hermione laughed and crawled to the other end of the couch and curled into Draco's arms, "No, I just felt like running"
"Oh, that's fun"
"Yeah, but now im thirsty" she said getting up from the couch regrettably as she had been so warm in Draco's arms, and heading up to the kitchen.
"Aw, I was just getting comfortable to" Draco whined, following Hermione none-the-less.
"Poor Draco" Hermione grinned over her shoulder.
When they reached the kitchen, Hermione got a cup of hot chocolate and some cookies, Draco on the other hand, got a butterbeer and chips.
"Maybe you do need to lose a few pounds" she joked.
"Oh really?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah really"
"Oh well, if thats your opinion on me maybe I won't ask you to the Christmas Dance, wouldn't want to embarrass you" he drawled.
"Oh Draco I'd love to go with you" Hermione smiled and jumped out of her chair to give her boyfriend a kiss.
"But I thought..."
"Oh shut up" she laughed, kissing him again.
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Later that night Hermione was to be found siting on her bed, painting her nails a silver color to go with her dress, waiting for her best friend to return. As she finished her last coat Ginny walked in the door, looking a little tired, but happy.
"Aw, waiting for me, Im honored." she grinned.
"Yes I am waiting for you, where have you been, its way past curfew."
"Oh come on Hermione, I was out with Blaise, we kind of lost track of time"
"What exactly were you doing that you lost track of time?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
"Its kind of silly actually, I had to help im pick out an outfit for the ball."
"So, your going with Blaise?"
"Duh, and your going with Draco?"
"Of course!"
"So what did you want to talk about?" Ginny asked, hanging up her jacket and falling back onto her bed.
"Everyone's reaction" she smiled sheepishly.
"What do you mean?"
"Oh come on Gin, do you honestly think that everyone is gonna smile when I turn up for the ball arm-in-arm with Draco Malfoy" she exclaimed.
An odd look came across Ginny's face as she sat up and looked Hermione in the eye, "Wow Mione, didn't think about that one"
"Yeah, I know!"
"So what are you going to do?"
"Talk to Draco, but, in the morning, now im tired." she yawned, and shut off the light.
"Night Gin"
Well hope you liked it! It was kind of a pointless chapter to get ready for the ball! The Ball is next! Well Review this chapter and thanks for the reviews of previous chapter!