The Debutante Ball
A fanfiction novel by sizzleberrylicious
Chapter Three
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"Draco, what's wrong?" came the concerned voice of Pansy Parkinson. Several days have passed since Draco's mortifying thought on Granger's 'perfect lips', and some strange thoughts about the best friend of the Boy Who Just Wouldn't Die kept intruding his thoughts and mussing up his brain. Draco snapped out of his reverie and let out a tired sigh. He had been having the most disturbing flashbacks of his father's cruel punishments towards him. He hated to think what would have become of him had he confronted his father with the idea of him not wanting to become a Death Eater and succeeding Lord Voldemort. Thankfully for him, the old bastard was dead.
"Nothing, Pans," Draco turned to face her, giving his best friend a reassuring smile. "I'm just tired, that's all. All this Head business being dumped on my shoulders is wearing me out."
Pansy had changed over the past several years. Instead of the whining, simpering, spoilt little brat, she had evolved into a mature, confident young woman. Draco had begun to trust her with his deepest secrets, and in his mind had named her his trusted confidante.
"I know you better than that, Draco Malfoy," Pansy gave him a look.
"Really, Pans, it's nothing. You should've heard Granger going on and on about the Debutante Ball. It was as if she was the star attraction or something."
Pansy frowned. "I can tell something's bothering you, Draco. What is it? I might be able to help."
Draco lowered his defenses and sighed. "Very well, Pans, if you insist. I've been having strange feelings lately.."
Pansy smiled knowingly. "Strange feelings? For a certain.. Gryffindor Head Girl, perhaps?"
Draco's eyes widened considerably. "H-how did you know?" he stuttered, caught off guard by Pansy's knowledge on his little crush.
"I'm not blind, Draco, I can see how you always stare at her from across the room."
Draco's head whipped around to glance at the other Slytherins. They were busy smirking amongst themselves and eating, so he took it that no one oveheard their little conversation.
"Don't worry, Draco, I believe no one else knows about it," Pansy reassured him. Draco let out a sigh of relief. Sometimes, he swore Pansy knew exactly what he was thinking.
"What do you think I should do, Pans?" Draco asked, lowering his voice.
"Well, I warn you first, Gryffindors are very possesive of their own kind, and the Slytherins will either diminish you or congratulate you, depending on the situation. But I think you should do whatever you see fit. Go and proclaim your undying love for her, or send her two hundred boxes of chocolates, whatever you think would get across the message clearly.. On second thought, after so many years of mistreating her, she might refuse to believe your sudden confession, so maybe you should take it slow. Treat her nicely and let her get to know you, maybe? Just know that whatever you choose to do, you've got my full support."
Draco felt like leaping out of his seat and hugging Pansy, not caring what rumours would spread around the school. But that wouldn't be a very Malfoy-like thing to do, and he had to preserve his reputation as best as he could before the big confession, so he decided on giving her a quick smile, something she later stated was so rare from the likes of Draco Malfoy that he felt rather insulted.
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Hermione fidgeted uncomfortably in her seat. She, Harry, and Ron were jotting down Charms notes, and she was having slight trouble understanding Professor Flitwick's haphazard scrawl. She felt a burning in her right cheek, a sign that someone was staring at her. Hermione glanced to her left to find Draco staring at her with fierce intensity from the other side of the classroom. She furrowed her brow in confusion as she turned back to her notes.
"Hermione," muttered a giggling Lavander from the seat behind her. Hermione turned around. "Draco Malfoy keeps staring at you!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Really, Lavander, I'm sure he's just staring at someone else," she stated before facing the front of the class again. Hermione bit down on her lip to resist the temptation to glance at Draco again. After several moments, Hermione gave in to her urge and sneaked a glance at the blond Slytherin, only to find him still locked in a gaze at her. Hermione's eyes widened as she quickly faced the front of the class again. Why on Earth is Draco Malfoy staring at me like that? I even noticed him staring at me in the library yesterday.. How strange.
Suddenly, the school bell rang loudly, signalling the end of class. Professor Flitwick scurried around his desk to face the class as they packed up their papers and quills, eager to have their lunch. "Now, class, I want all of you to read up on 'Charming The Uncharmed' and answer the sheet of questions that come with it. All question sheets must be handed up during our next lesson. Now, off you go!" the tiny professor cried over the hustle and bustle.
Hermione waited outside the classroom for Harry and Ron to catch up. They were still busy stuffing their books into their bags, and Hermione was losing her patience. The door opened and Hermione turned with a relieved smile plastered over her face, but her smile dropped when she saw who it was.
"So happy to see me, Granger?" drawled Draco as he glided out of the classroom and came to a halt mere inches away from Hermione. "I never thought I'd live to see the day."
"In your dreams, Malfoy," Hermione rolled her eyes. Without waiting for Harry and Ron, she rushed off in the direction of the Great Hall, not wanting to be stuck in the hallway with Draco.
Draco stared after her, a smirk etched on his gorgeous features.
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"You know, Malfoy, you've got one hell of an advantage having joint rooms with Granger," Blaise stated randomly during dinner. Draco faced him with a quirked eyebrow.
"What do you mean, Zabini?"
Blaise smirked. "Well, if you didn't notice, Malfoy, your little bookworm is growing up and out in all the right places. Guys are starting to notice her, man. And she has one hot piece of ass," he commented, naughtily.
Draco immediately stiffened, his eyes darkening to a molten shade of grey. "Back off, Zabini. She's mine," he warned in a quiet tone.
Blaise gives him a weird look, but in a flash it transforms into a scowl. "She's not yours yet, Malfoy."
"We'll see about that, Zabini."
"Not if I can help it."
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Hermione stared down at her untouched roast duck and peas. Suddenly, the jovial banter of the Great Hall was overcome by a hushed silence, and heavy footsteps were heard approaching the Gryffindor table. A shadow shrouded Hermione, and she looked up to stare into the quicksilver eyes of none other than Draco Malfoy. Hermione felt Harry and Ron tense beside her and shook her head slightly to indicate that she was in no mood for a fight. Draco smirked at that as he held out his hand, inviting her to accept it.
"Would you like to take a walk?"
Hermione stared up at him, her lips parted in shock.
Harry removed his wand as he clutched Ron's robes, preventing him from lashing out at Draco and getting them into trouble. Ginny's mouth hung open in surprise, and Neville fainted, his face landing into his half-eaten bowl of rice casserole. The Slytherins were fuming; how could the Slytherin Demi-God want to walk with the bucktoothed Gryffindor know-it-all? Pansy, on the other hand, was smiling into her soup, and Crabbe and Goyle were looking as blur as always. Blaise simply glared at his butterblond best friend.
Hermione looked into Draco's eyes. Is this some kind of sick joke?
Before she knew what she was doing, Hermione hesitantly fitted her small hand into Draco's larger one, and Draco helped her out of her seat.
All the students - and the teachers - stared on in shock as Hermione made her way out of the Great Hall, Draco gliding behind her. Just as they left the Great Hall, everyone started spreading rumours and devouring gossip about Hogwarts' latest unlikely couple, the Great Hall buzzing with excitement.
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Oh my God. I'm taking a walk with Draco Malfoy, my arch enemy since.. well, forever! What am I doing? Where are we going? And why am I so stupid as to forget my jacket?? It's freezing out here, flooded in Hermione's haywire thoughts. She shook her head to clear her thoughts, her burnt copper curls bouncing about her shoulders. Draco's lingering stares at her went unnoticed as he revelled in her presence. There was something in the air about her that made her feel rather superior. Draco smirked. He liked his women superior.
The two of them made their way around the Grounds, the green grass glistening after a light shower. Draco seemed to be at ease with the silence, but Hermione was wracking her brains with possible reasons as to why Draco would want to walk with her. Maybe this is all just a silly joke, and he'll go around telling the whole school that I fell for it. Well, I won't be having any of that! I'm Hermione Granger, not to be fooled with under any circumstances! Or maybe he simply wants some company. No, he'd be walking with Pansy or Blaise or some other Slytherin minion. Hm.. There's got to be at least ONE logical reason!!
She was, of course, driving herself mad.
Hermione absolutely refused to admit to herself that she toyed with the idea of him liking her. That is, after all, a ridiculous proposition! Hermione convinced herself, giving herself a little subconcious nod in agreement. Draco shot her a funny look, but brushed it off, creating his own theories as to what she was nodding at herself about.
"Uhm.. It's a beautiful night out," Hermione stated, trying her best to make conversation. Silences always creeped her out; it was a phobia she had developed since she was little. Hermione was shocked silly when, instead of sneering at her like she expected, Draco grinned up at the twinkling night sky.
"Yeah, it is. The sky's just like a bunch of glittering diamonds on an endless roll of black velvet," he noted.
Wow.. I never knew Draco had a poetic side to him.. That was absolutely beautiful! Hermione grinned to herself.
Bloody Merlin, I sound like a fucking faggot! Draco thought, his face paling in horror.
After several awkwardly silent moments, they made their way back into the castle. It was quite late, judging by the few scattered students left milling about the castle. The pair silently made their way up to their portrait and Hermione gave the prince the password, seeing as the princess was snoozing.
Draco held his hand out towards the portrait hole as the portrait swung open, being the perfect gentleman and gesturing her inside. Hermione smiled politely as she carefully climbed through. Draco followed her moments later, and Hermione heard the portrait swing shut behind them with a dull click.
Draco took Hermione's hand and grazed his lips lightly over her knuckles, staring into her pools of warm chocolate orbs the entire time. Caught off guard, Hermione let a soft gasp escape her lips as her cheeks blushed a bright crimson. She had the urge to snatch her hand back and slap him, but caught herself just in time. This is not the Draco Malfoy I grew up with and hate.
"Thank you for the pleasure of allowing me to escort you around the Grounds," he said, his voice as smooth as silk. "Goodnight, ..Hermione."
Hermione's eyes widened in response. He had said her name! Hermione was so used to Mudblood, Granger, and the odd Gryffindor Know-It-All. Hermione was now certain that he had drunk some kind of potion that required him to be nice to her. Either that, or he had been abducted and the aliens had made an alarmingly different - yet similiarly delicious - carbon copy of him.
Draco gave her one of his infamous million-Galleon half smirks that sent girls crashing over the edge and swooning at his feet. Hermione, though, wasn't one of those girls, but she did remain teetering dangerously close to the edge. Besides, Hermione Granger had more dignity than those other girls, and she easily refrained from dropping to her knees and worshipping the ground he walked on.
There was an unbelievable moment where their eyes met, Hermione's melting to a shade darker from Draco's piercingly intense stare.
Then, as quick as the moment had started, it ended abruptly with Draco giving her a curt nod before striding off to his room.
Hermione fell back onto the plush sofa, brows knitted together in confusion. She was feeling rather insulted by that nod; what on Earth did he mean by it?!
Hermione let out a groan of frustration when no answer entertained her. She needed to speak to Ginny as soon as possible. Hermione thought over the possibility of sneaking out to Gryffindor Tower at 11.17PM and decided against it. She couldn't possibly sneak all the way to the other end of the castle without Harry's Invisibility Cloak. Mrs Norris or Filch would definitely find her out and issue a detention. Hermione had never received a detention in her entire life, and she wasn't going to let now be the time for one to kick her in the arse and stain her spotless permanent record.
Hermione let out a stiffled yawn. "Mmm.. I should go to bed," she reasoned with herself. But her muscles ached from her long walk and tiring day. Slowly, she curled up on the sofa and sighed, the crackling from the fireplace lulling her to sleep in seconds.
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Disclaimer: Foo. Read Chapter Two's.
Author's Note: A BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DEAREST FRIEND, CAITYYY!! You rock, sweets. D
Ahem, right, moving on. Well, this chapter is longer than the others, and I'm planning to make all my chapters roughly this length. Oh, and in response to Eternal Night's question: Yes, they do need escorts. If not, where'd all the fun be?
A gargantuan THANK YOU to my beloved reviewers: WinnieThaPoo92, Sam, Eternal Night, Artemis52036, Abby, oneamsoundstage and BA de Danone!! You guys seriously rock ass. Ooh, also thanks to the reviewers of His Thoughts!
Well, I've been faithfully keeping to my one-chapter-every-one-or-two-days thing, eh? I'm planning on releasing the next chapter, say, on New Year's. Yeah.
Oh, I'm reeeally sorry that I made such a big jump in Draco's feelings. It's just, if I HAD filled in the blanks and written down every single moment they spent together to get that feeling, this story would be the death of me. And doesn't everyone just L-O-V-E Draco Malfoy? I know I do! Ttfn, 'sizzleberrylicious. Muaxx, sweets! ♥