Chapter Seven
A Snag In The Plan
After their earlier kisses, it might have been awkward for Fred and Hermione to share the same bed that night, and it was, at first. Hermione slid under the sheets and lay on her back, stiffly listening as Fred took a sip of water and crawled in next to her. There was a large gap between them and Hermione lay wide awake, wondering what she should do, if she should do anything at all.
She was on edge and was just about to roll over and try to forget everything, when she felt warm fingers softly tickle her arm.
"You still awake," Fred asked and Hermione let out a whooshing sigh and nodded. It was a moment before she realized he couldn't have seen it.
"Yes."
"I don't want things to be different between us, Hermione. I don't know how things could be, we weren't exactly close friends before, so there isn't that obstacle," Fred said and Hermione smiled in the dark, rolling onto her side, she propped her head on her elbow and looked at him.
She could see him well enough, with the lights out and he looked entirely serious.
"Fred, don't worry about it," Hermione assured him.
"Okay. Goodnight, Hermione," Fred said and she rolled back onto her back, expecting that to be the end of it.
But it wasn't. Fred scooted closer and put his arm across her stomach, pulling her closer to himself. He snuggled up to her and apparently content, began to breath evenly. Hermione relaxed, finally feeling sleepy.
The next evening was the night that had Hermione's stomach all tied in knots. She was locked in the bathroom, powdering her nose and trying to calm down. She'd hardly seen Fred all day, he'd been in and out of their room, only saying a few words to her. It made her feel lonely, because all she had to do was get ready for the ball. She sighed and put the powder puff away. All her skin was a pale shimmer of silver. It made her look magical and it went well with her lovely dress.
Of course she wasn't wearing that yet, because she didn't want to get anything on it. Instead, she sat on a stool, wearing a pretty pink slip dress she'd been given by Ginny. Slowly she stood up and carefully pulled the shopping bag off the counter where she'd set it. Gently she pulled the dress out and held it out in front of herself, admiring once again, the beautiful colors.
The dress was floor length and the skirt was layers and layers of peacock feathers. The top was sparkling with tiny gem stones sewn along the neck line. She sighed contentedly and took it off the hanger. Slowly she pulled it over her head and settled it on her shoulders, letting the skirt hit the floor.
She smiled at her reflection and walked out of the bathroom, her shoulders thrown back and her back ramrod straight. She glided into the bedroom and found Fred sitting on the bed. She walked over and twirled in her dress in front of him.
Fred laughed and whistled softly.
"Too bad you're my sister," He joked grabbing her hand and dragging her towards him so he could give her a quick hug.
"Only for pretend," Hermione retorted kissing him on the cheek and strutting away to look in her suitcase. She dug inside and triumphantly came up with a pair of black stilettoes. She slipped them onto her feet and, now standing four inches taller, looked at Fred imploringly.
"Aren't you going to get dressed?"
"Of course," Fred said airily and he stood up and went to retrieve his costume from his things. Throwing a casual grin at Hermione he went into the bathroom and closed the door.
She sat on the bed, being careful to tuck her dress neatly around herself. She hadn't really seen Fred in his costume and she was curious as to how he would look.
Dashing was apparently the word, when he exited the bathroom wearing his finery. Hermione looked him over, and blushing, looked at the floor because she felt she couldn't meet his eyes.
"That bad, huh. Well I thought it looked good," Fred said shrugging and Hermione looked up at him. Even though he looked sincere, he had the usual wicked twinkle in his eye.
"Fred, you know you look good," Hermione began and Fred interrupted her by laughing loudly.
"Don't inflate me ego any further, darling."
Dinner that night was a bit different than it had been in the past. The few long tables in the dining room had been replaced by small round tables scattered around the room. Dark black veils hung from each light fixture, making the room much darker. Hermione and Fred made their way to a table of their own and were joined by a young couple they'd never met before. The other couple seemed so wrapped up in themselves, Hermione and Fred had only each other to talk to.
"It's rather hard to eat our food in this lighting," Hermione said looking at her salad with disdain.
"Just a little bit," Fred said as he tried to spear a piece of pork once again.
"I wonder what the special entertainment is for party," Hermione murmured.
"Mrs. Henderson says she hired the FMA to play," Fred said between bites.
"She what," Hermione asked suddenly interested and Fred looked at her oddly.
"You know the wizarding band, FMA, they're playing," Fred said and Hermione dropped her fork on her plate.
"Oh my gosh! I love them," Hermione exclaimed and Fred raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Ginny's influence," Hermione explained.
"I thought so."
"Oh I wish she was here. She'd love it," Hermione lamented and Fred shook his head.
"This is one of those times I notice the difference between you and other girls. If you were, say Katie Bell, she'd be saying 'Ginny is going to be so jealous when I tell her'. Which isn't very nice if you ask me," Fred said and Hermione blushed, feeling deeply complimented.
"Thank you," She said and Fred nodded as he pick at the food on his plate with his fork, trying to get something speared on the tines.
Finally he set his fork down and pushed his plate away. Hermione realized she was done with her own food and they looked at each other for a second, neither know what to say.
"If you are all done eating, we will exit the dining room so that the help can move the tables and set up the stage," Mrs. Henderson's commanding voice floated to them from somewhere near the door.
Everyone was milling around the lobby as Fred and Hermione made it into the hall. Hermione waited patiently in the hall as Fred had went to the bathroom. She missed his company terribly. She stood admiring a painting that hung on the wall across from the dining room doors, trying not to feel awkward.
"Granger?"
Hermione nearly jumped out of her skin at that familiar address and even more familiar feeling of dread. She may have been wearing a costume, but for all the good it did her, she might as well have been naked. He saw right through her, and what was worse, he could blow her entire cover.
"Malfoy, how wonderful to be seeing you," Hermione said, biting back the bitter retort she'd of loved to throw at him. She turned around to look steadily at the handsome blonde boy before her.
"What on earth are you doing here?"
"I happen to be enjoying a vacation, if you do not mind," Hermione said trying to be as rational as possible, when her only thoughts were of throttling him.
"Nice dress," He said snootily, managing to turn a compliment into a snub.
"Aren't you late for a Death Eater's meeting, or have they kicked you out on your over-pampered rear?"
"Very funny, you know I'd be killed if I set foot at one of those events," Draco said snidely and Hermione had the grace to look embarrassed.
She hadn't known. It was at that moment that her curious side kicked in.
"What have you been up to since, well since I saw you last?"
"How is that any of your business, Granger," Draco said scathingly, but it didn't miss her attention that he hadn't called her Mudblood.
"I just... look.. Malfoy. Can you please refrain from acknowledging you know me. I know you hate me, so can we act as if the other doesn't exist?"
"Fine," Malfoy said and he sauntered off, leaving Hermione with shaky knees and sweating palms.
No, it wasn't because he was good-looking, she was genuinely afraid he was going to expose who she really was to Mrs. Henderson.
Just as Hermione felt her breathing returning to normal, Fred came out of the loo looking cheerful.
"Hello, darling," He said and then he stopped and his face lost a lot of it's chipper quality, "Are you okay, Hermione? You're looking a little pale."
"Malfoy is here," Hermione said flatly and Fred's eyes widened.
"The little ferret or the big snake?"
"The ferret," Hermione said disgustedly.
"Do you think he'll say something?"
"No, he's a lowly scumbag and I know he'd like nothing better than to see me roasted slowly on a stake, but, oh what am I saying, I have no idea what he's going to do, but if he says anything I have no problem cursing him," Hermione said laughing nervously.
"I'll tear the little bastard limb from limb," Fred growled and Hermione nodded agreeably.
"The dance is starting," Some young girl shrieked, running past them and into the transformed dinning room.
Soft music began to float from the room.
"We better go in," Fred said although he was watching Hermione carefully because she still looked a little fuzzy.
"Okay," She said and he took grabbed her hand for a moment, and her heart leapt suddenly.
"Cheer up buttercup, we can outwit him."