Chapter 9: In Which Murphy's Law is Proven (part I)
It was with a mixture of anticipation and dread that Severus approached Hermione's flat that evening. After bumping into her in Draco's hall he had stammered out an apology and fled to another room. It had been utterly humiliating. She had looked adorable with a crimson blush spread over her face, and in his own embarrassment he had been certain she would tell him on the spot she never wanted to see him again. Fortunately she hadn't and he swore to himself to make dinner an enjoyable experience for her.
Draco had sought to console him, even going so far as to style Severus' hair and lend him a coat that would complete his outfit to perfection. He had to admit he looked better than he had in years; in fact he might look better than he ever had in his entire life. But better still wasn't much. His skin was still sallow, his nose enormous and hooked, and his build was thin to the point of appearing emaciated. In his hand he held a beautifully arranged bunch of white and red roses, one of Draco's contributions.
Swallowing his nerves, Severus knocked loudly on Hermione's door.
~
Hermione sat in her living room, hands wrapped around a tumbler of water, staring pensively into the fire. It was quarter to six, Severus would be arriving soon. Ginny had left just a few moments earlier, telling Hermione she looked fabulous and to have a good time. Hermione had grinned good-naturedly and thanked her friend for the help.
After colliding with Severus at Draco's flat she had run to Ginny and Neville's flat.
**Flashback**
Hermione rose to her feet and tiptoed to the door, listening to the gentle sound of feet in the hall outside, so she could time her exit exactly. It wasn't often she got to surprise Draco and there was no way she was messing up this particular opportunity. She heard the feet step in the creaky board just a foot from where she stood and pushed the door open. She stepped with the door and ran directly into someone wet and naked.
She gasped and pulled her face up to look apologetically at the person she had nearly bowled over. Oh no. she thought, her mouth hanging slightly open in shock, "Severus?!" she squeaked. She could feel a crimson blush spreading over her face, this is so humiliating, with mounting despair. She lowered her eyes, focusing on the floor as if it held the answers to every problem she had ever had.
"I'm sorry," Severus said quickly, releasing her arms, which he had grabbed to steady them both when she had collided with him. He turned on his heel and practically ran down the hall.
Hermione looked after him, tears clouding her cinnamon eyes. She had been so excited about tonight, and now she'd gone and ruined it. She blinked furiously to keep the tears at bay and returned to the room where she had been waiting for Draco. Unable to bear staying in the same house as Severus for another moment she jotted a quick note to Draco and slipped out onto the street.
She still needed to get ready, just in case Severus decided to come despite her hideousness. When their eyes had contacted in the hall she had seen shock and knew in an instant he had remembered the Hermione from Hogwarts; bushy hair, enormous teeth, no figure, and an irritating personality. In that moment she had felt her heart crack and her hope fail her. She stood in the middle of the road near Draco's apartment, letting her forlorn thoughts surround her.
The sound of a honking horn startled her out of her musings and she had to jump out of the way of an oncoming car. She shook her head, trying to clear it. She needed help, but who could she go to?
Ginny.
The moment the girl's name came to mind Hermione wondered why she hadn't thought of this sooner. Ginny would know what to do. Not to mention she had impeccable taste in clothing. She shook her head; it was so typical of her to miss the glaringly obvious. Moving to a suitable apparation area Hermione headed to see her friend.
She had only been to Neville and Ginny's home once, but she remembered it in vivid details. The two story cottage had been built in the early 1500's by a rich earl as a summer cottage, but with modern renovations it made a perfect year round home for the newlyweds. The whitewashed stone walls had wild roses growing over them, giving the place an enchanted look in the spring and summer. There were no Muggles for several kilometers in every direction, so Ginny and Neville were both free to practice magic whenever they pleased, without worrying about detection.
Hermione knocked on the bright red front door, and waited impatiently for someone to answer. She was still very agitated about the earlier events of the day, unable to get the startled look in Severus' eyes out of her mind.
The door swung open revealing a casually dressed and extremely surprised Ginny Weasley-Longbottom. "Hermione?"
"Ginny!" Hermione's panic gave way to tears and she fell into her younger friend's arms.
Ginny stroked her hair and pulled her inside sitting her on a soft plush couch and going to brew a pot of tea. Hermione rocked back and forth trying to regain control over her emotions. It wouldn't do to have red eyes for her dinner, if it happened; this thought reduced her to tears yet again.
Ginny shoved a mug of tea into Hermione's hands. "Drink!" she ordered in a no-nonsense tone that was frighteningly similar to Molly Weasley's. Hermione drank, and instant felt better.
"What's in this?" She asked, turning a suspicious glare on her friend. "Which cheering potion did you use? It's brilliant." She smiled. "I didn't even taste it."
Ginny grinned and answered with a cryptic "Family secret," and sipped her own tea. "Now are you going to tell me what's wrong? Or will I have to give you a different flavor of tea?"
Hermione chuckled. "I am NOT having a good afternoon." She began, telling Ginny about her and Severus' dinner plans, and the encounter at Draco's flat in full detail. By the end Ginny was in stitches, and Hermione was feeling calmer for having told her problems to someone.
"Now," Ginny said, once she had stopped laughing. "You need a fabulous outfit for this evening, correct?" She sat and concentrated for a moment before breaking into a wide grin. "I know just the place. Come on." She practically dragged Hermione to her feet. "You do know how to apparate without a direction in mind right?" Ginny asked, "I will direct you."
Hermione nodded and wrapped an arm around Ginny's waist. They disappeared with a pop.
~
The store the girls found themselves in was absolutely gorgeous. There were dresses of every imaginable color and style. Ginny rushed around snatching garments off their racks and send Hermione to try them on. Dismissing each in turn as being; too plain, too young, too old, too fancy, too skimpy, and not nearly skimpy enough, always too something, until Hermione thought she would scream.
After half an hour of fruitless searching Hermione felt herself beginning to panic once again. "Gin he's going to be at my house in less than two hours! We need to find a dress, like now."
Ginny smiled mischievously and passed Hermione a single dress. "Here. Try this with these," she handed Hermione a pair of strappy shoes, "And these" she handed her a simple watch and a piece of paper with a charm written on it. "Come out when you're ready.
Hermione looked at the simple red silk cocktail dress. It was simple and beautiful, and the color was perfect. Her heart felt light for the first time in hours as she slipped into her change room. The expensive silk of the dress slid smoothly over her skin, magically tightening in all the right places, the shoes were charmed to wrap themselves around her legs once she slipped them on, and had been charmed so they would never hurt her feet, already she felt like a princess. She looked over the charm on the card and spoke the words. Instantly her face was covered in tasteful make up. She gasped. It was perfect.
**End Flashback**
_______________________________________________________________
A/N: of course as you all should know Murphy's Law is usually summed up as: "everything that can go wrong will." Thank you everyone who reviewed chapter 8. I'm sorry this one took so long to get finished. And that it's in two parts. But school is insane right now, first week and all. So as a result, all of my chapter updates will be slow. And I know promised to get the date in this chapter, but I had to split it.. into at least two parts.. if not three, so you will get some date action in Chapter 9 part two!!! I apologize for the horrendously long Flashback. I didn't think it would be that extensive...but the character's had to have their say *shrugs* Special thanks to ShodanHalo for emailing me. It's so wonderful to know people actually care if I continue or not!
Thank you : QueenBonnie, nikkie, nightshadow1, nesscafe, summerstarangel, Amethyst9, jenbachand. For reviewing! You guys make this story happen.
It was with a mixture of anticipation and dread that Severus approached Hermione's flat that evening. After bumping into her in Draco's hall he had stammered out an apology and fled to another room. It had been utterly humiliating. She had looked adorable with a crimson blush spread over her face, and in his own embarrassment he had been certain she would tell him on the spot she never wanted to see him again. Fortunately she hadn't and he swore to himself to make dinner an enjoyable experience for her.
Draco had sought to console him, even going so far as to style Severus' hair and lend him a coat that would complete his outfit to perfection. He had to admit he looked better than he had in years; in fact he might look better than he ever had in his entire life. But better still wasn't much. His skin was still sallow, his nose enormous and hooked, and his build was thin to the point of appearing emaciated. In his hand he held a beautifully arranged bunch of white and red roses, one of Draco's contributions.
Swallowing his nerves, Severus knocked loudly on Hermione's door.
~
Hermione sat in her living room, hands wrapped around a tumbler of water, staring pensively into the fire. It was quarter to six, Severus would be arriving soon. Ginny had left just a few moments earlier, telling Hermione she looked fabulous and to have a good time. Hermione had grinned good-naturedly and thanked her friend for the help.
After colliding with Severus at Draco's flat she had run to Ginny and Neville's flat.
**Flashback**
Hermione rose to her feet and tiptoed to the door, listening to the gentle sound of feet in the hall outside, so she could time her exit exactly. It wasn't often she got to surprise Draco and there was no way she was messing up this particular opportunity. She heard the feet step in the creaky board just a foot from where she stood and pushed the door open. She stepped with the door and ran directly into someone wet and naked.
She gasped and pulled her face up to look apologetically at the person she had nearly bowled over. Oh no. she thought, her mouth hanging slightly open in shock, "Severus?!" she squeaked. She could feel a crimson blush spreading over her face, this is so humiliating, with mounting despair. She lowered her eyes, focusing on the floor as if it held the answers to every problem she had ever had.
"I'm sorry," Severus said quickly, releasing her arms, which he had grabbed to steady them both when she had collided with him. He turned on his heel and practically ran down the hall.
Hermione looked after him, tears clouding her cinnamon eyes. She had been so excited about tonight, and now she'd gone and ruined it. She blinked furiously to keep the tears at bay and returned to the room where she had been waiting for Draco. Unable to bear staying in the same house as Severus for another moment she jotted a quick note to Draco and slipped out onto the street.
She still needed to get ready, just in case Severus decided to come despite her hideousness. When their eyes had contacted in the hall she had seen shock and knew in an instant he had remembered the Hermione from Hogwarts; bushy hair, enormous teeth, no figure, and an irritating personality. In that moment she had felt her heart crack and her hope fail her. She stood in the middle of the road near Draco's apartment, letting her forlorn thoughts surround her.
The sound of a honking horn startled her out of her musings and she had to jump out of the way of an oncoming car. She shook her head, trying to clear it. She needed help, but who could she go to?
Ginny.
The moment the girl's name came to mind Hermione wondered why she hadn't thought of this sooner. Ginny would know what to do. Not to mention she had impeccable taste in clothing. She shook her head; it was so typical of her to miss the glaringly obvious. Moving to a suitable apparation area Hermione headed to see her friend.
She had only been to Neville and Ginny's home once, but she remembered it in vivid details. The two story cottage had been built in the early 1500's by a rich earl as a summer cottage, but with modern renovations it made a perfect year round home for the newlyweds. The whitewashed stone walls had wild roses growing over them, giving the place an enchanted look in the spring and summer. There were no Muggles for several kilometers in every direction, so Ginny and Neville were both free to practice magic whenever they pleased, without worrying about detection.
Hermione knocked on the bright red front door, and waited impatiently for someone to answer. She was still very agitated about the earlier events of the day, unable to get the startled look in Severus' eyes out of her mind.
The door swung open revealing a casually dressed and extremely surprised Ginny Weasley-Longbottom. "Hermione?"
"Ginny!" Hermione's panic gave way to tears and she fell into her younger friend's arms.
Ginny stroked her hair and pulled her inside sitting her on a soft plush couch and going to brew a pot of tea. Hermione rocked back and forth trying to regain control over her emotions. It wouldn't do to have red eyes for her dinner, if it happened; this thought reduced her to tears yet again.
Ginny shoved a mug of tea into Hermione's hands. "Drink!" she ordered in a no-nonsense tone that was frighteningly similar to Molly Weasley's. Hermione drank, and instant felt better.
"What's in this?" She asked, turning a suspicious glare on her friend. "Which cheering potion did you use? It's brilliant." She smiled. "I didn't even taste it."
Ginny grinned and answered with a cryptic "Family secret," and sipped her own tea. "Now are you going to tell me what's wrong? Or will I have to give you a different flavor of tea?"
Hermione chuckled. "I am NOT having a good afternoon." She began, telling Ginny about her and Severus' dinner plans, and the encounter at Draco's flat in full detail. By the end Ginny was in stitches, and Hermione was feeling calmer for having told her problems to someone.
"Now," Ginny said, once she had stopped laughing. "You need a fabulous outfit for this evening, correct?" She sat and concentrated for a moment before breaking into a wide grin. "I know just the place. Come on." She practically dragged Hermione to her feet. "You do know how to apparate without a direction in mind right?" Ginny asked, "I will direct you."
Hermione nodded and wrapped an arm around Ginny's waist. They disappeared with a pop.
~
The store the girls found themselves in was absolutely gorgeous. There were dresses of every imaginable color and style. Ginny rushed around snatching garments off their racks and send Hermione to try them on. Dismissing each in turn as being; too plain, too young, too old, too fancy, too skimpy, and not nearly skimpy enough, always too something, until Hermione thought she would scream.
After half an hour of fruitless searching Hermione felt herself beginning to panic once again. "Gin he's going to be at my house in less than two hours! We need to find a dress, like now."
Ginny smiled mischievously and passed Hermione a single dress. "Here. Try this with these," she handed Hermione a pair of strappy shoes, "And these" she handed her a simple watch and a piece of paper with a charm written on it. "Come out when you're ready.
Hermione looked at the simple red silk cocktail dress. It was simple and beautiful, and the color was perfect. Her heart felt light for the first time in hours as she slipped into her change room. The expensive silk of the dress slid smoothly over her skin, magically tightening in all the right places, the shoes were charmed to wrap themselves around her legs once she slipped them on, and had been charmed so they would never hurt her feet, already she felt like a princess. She looked over the charm on the card and spoke the words. Instantly her face was covered in tasteful make up. She gasped. It was perfect.
**End Flashback**
_______________________________________________________________
A/N: of course as you all should know Murphy's Law is usually summed up as: "everything that can go wrong will." Thank you everyone who reviewed chapter 8. I'm sorry this one took so long to get finished. And that it's in two parts. But school is insane right now, first week and all. So as a result, all of my chapter updates will be slow. And I know promised to get the date in this chapter, but I had to split it.. into at least two parts.. if not three, so you will get some date action in Chapter 9 part two!!! I apologize for the horrendously long Flashback. I didn't think it would be that extensive...but the character's had to have their say *shrugs* Special thanks to ShodanHalo for emailing me. It's so wonderful to know people actually care if I continue or not!
Thank you : QueenBonnie, nikkie, nightshadow1, nesscafe, summerstarangel, Amethyst9, jenbachand. For reviewing! You guys make this story happen.