1A/N: Oh wow...it has been a while. I'm very sorry... I suppose I've been busy with school lately...okay, I know...that's no excuse. Well, here it is, the long awaited Halloween Ball!
(Thanks to Sam's Firefly, ProwlingKitKat, Iceblinkmysterygal, All Apologies, Mysterygalwolf, Ice cream chick and Jesse's Gurl for sticking to my story and submitting reviews!)
Being Bound to Your Presence Chapter Seventeen
The Halloween Ball
They danced in a tight circle, everything around them a blur as if they were alone in the world. She wanted to just melt in his arms and become part of him. Their lips met and he kissed her passionately... going weak at the knees...
Hermione jerked awake form her dream. It was the night before the Ball and she kept having fantasies of the night to come. She was tired of waiting.
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The morning of the ball, Hermione was hopping around Draco's bed like a rabbit on drugs. Malfoy, of course, was asleep.
"Errrrrghh," He groaned as she plopped down on the end of his bed, waking him, "Why must you hop around like a rabbit on drugs?"
"Tonight is the bbbaallll!!!" Hermione sang happily. Draco sat up in bed, yawning widely. He rumpled his hair in a sexy sort of way, and proceeded to staring at Hermione who was beaming at him, with a bored look on his face.
"Gosh, Malfoy..." Hermione said, smile fading slightly. "Don't look so excited." Draco ignored her and lay back down.
"Isn't Weasel King's preppy little sister coming over later?"
"Yes, and her proper name would be Ginny," Hermione said sweetly. Draco was reminded of Umbridge.
"Right. I'm terribly sorry. Now when is Weasel King's preppy little sister going to be here?"
Hermione scowled. "I told her to owl me, so I should know soon..."
"You have no idea, do you?" Draco grinned. Hermione shoved a pillow in his face. As opposed to fighting back, Draco pulled her by her arms into a kiss. She went ridged in shock, then relaxed in his arms. Draco wound his fingers into her thick curls. At that moment there was a tap on the window. On the sill was beautiful, snowy-white Hedwig, followed by the tiny owl that was Pig.
Hermione jumped up suddenly, as though she was deciding she was appalled at Malfoy for doing such a thing, but the curiosity of the contents of Harry and Ginny's letters overtook this emotion. She cleared her throat in a rather businesslike way, straightened up and headed toward the window. She ripped off both letters and the owls took off. Throwing Harry's into an arm chair, Hermione opened Ginny's quickly. It read-
Dear Hermione,
I thought maybe I could come over at around one so we could hang out before the dance at 5:30. See you then!
All love,
Ginny
Hermione glanced at the clock- 12:00. She and Draco had slept far too long. She rushed
to the bathroom to get bathed and ready, Draco following in her wake.
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At 4:00 that afternoon, Hermione and Ginny were sitting on Hermione's bed, chatting merrily and munching on snacks. Draco was sitting outside their door, trying and failing to listen in on their conversation. Hermione had placed a charm on the door so that he wouldn't be able to hear.
"So," Ginny said after finishing her fifth pumpkin pasty, "what's up with you and Draco?" Hermione rolled her eyes. "Other than being stuck to his side all the time?"
Ginny grinned. "You know you like him," She said, "You'd just rather drink Stinksap than admit it to it."
Hermione sighed. "I don't know. He just has a way of making me forget everything...making me forget that I'm supposed to...hate him." Ginny's grin widened.
"Have you two kissed since that first time?" She asked with a questioning eyebrow.
"Yes..." Hermione grew steadily redder. There was no point in lying to her. "I'm lucky I got your letter when I did...or we might still have been when you got here." Ginny squealed at this. "Don't," Hermione said. "I hate myself for liking him...I just..."
"No, 'Mione!" Ginny exclaimed, reaching out for Hermione's hand. "Don't hate yourself for love!" She paused. "You could have chosen someone other than the 'evil Draco Malfoy' to love," She added as an after thought, "But don't hate yourself, all the same."
Hermione glanced at the time. The clock read 4:35.
"We'd better get ready now, Gin, or we won't be done on time.
They spent the next 40 minutes getting dressed and ready. At 5:15 Hermione called to Draco.
"Malfoy?"
"Huh."
"We're going to come out now...okay? You need to get dressed and stuff, too."
"Uh huh."
As Hermione and Ginny emerged, Draco swore under his breath. Hermione stood before him, smiling nervously, with her silk blue dress that seemed to float over her curves, and her navy shawl draped over her arms. She had dusted some sort of shimmery bronzer over her bare shoulders, neck bones and cheek bones that made her look like an angel. Her hair was twisted into an elaborate up-do secured by the jeweled barrette. She had applied lengthening mascara to her eyelashes, making her brown doe eyes a gorgeous sight to see. Ginny looked equally as beautiful, but Draco didn't seem to notice.
"Do you like it?" Hermione asked him, self conscious.
"Sure, I suppose," He said nonchalantly, trying to casually hide his astonishment. HE had never known a muggleborn who had the capability to look that good. Damn. "It looks...nice."
"Well, you'd better get your tux on..." You could hear the disappointment in Hermione's voice. She patted her hair a bit shamefully.
When Draco emerged from the bathroom, It was Hermione's turn to stare. Draco looked as handsome as ever in his neat black tuxedo, which clashed with his white blond hair stunningly. She wondered why she had never admired him before. His speckled grey eyes shifted to the wall behind her as she looked upon him in admiration.
"Well, I had better go meet up with Harry," Ginny squeezed Hermione's arm. She too seemed surprised at how good Malfoy looked. Hermione shook her head slightly.
"Yeah, we better get going too..."
Her arm through his, Hermione and Draco followed Ginny out of the Room of Requirement, the wooden doors disappearing behind them. They met Harry outside the Great Hall. As Ginny greeted him with a shy hug, Harry looked over her bare shoulders at Malfoy, holding Hermione's arm, for a moment before turning back to Ginny, a quite unnecessary look of disgust on his face.
"Faggot," Malfoy whispered under his breath.
The Great Hall was beautifully decorated for Halloween, as usual. Candle-filled pumpkins floated in mid-air against the back sky; it was a clear evening. The long House tables had been replaced by small tables along the outskirts of the hall. Just like at the Yule Ball, each place at the tables had an empty plate next to a menu. Draco, Hermione, Ginny and Harry all sat at the nearest table. Harry was avoiding eye contact with Hermione.
At the long staff table, the only one that had not been removed, Dumbledore stood. The quiet chattering of the students turned to silence.
"Good evening, 6th and 7th years, and welcome to the Halloween Ball. I would like to thank the teachers for all their work organizing all of this, and I would also like to thank the Weird Sisters for their entertainment they will be providing us tonight." He smiled at the stage, where the Weird Sisters were set up, all clad in very peculiar clothing. "So now, you may feast, and when you're ready, get up and dance!" Dumbledore smiled at them all. Draco rolled his eyes. "Or you can dance and then eat! Or, if you most certainly wish, you may dance while you eat! Whatever your choice, have fun!" Dumbledore gave a slight booty-shake before sitting back down.
After looking through their menus, they placed their orders with their plates. Soon they were all digging in to the wonderful food. A few times Hermione caught Harry looking at her, but as soon as their eyes met he looked away. Hermione could only imagine how Ginny was feeling right now...Hermione knew the feelings Ginny had always had for Harry.
When Harry threw a dirty look at Malfoy, he replied with a sweet, "Whatcha staring at, Potty mouth?"
Harry's face burned. "I don't know." He said, his voice full of hatred. "I haven't figured it out yet."
"Oh, you think you're-"
"Hey, Ginny, can I talk to you for a minute?" Hermione interrupted Malfoy before he could finish. She dragged Ginny away from the table, Draco automatically following. Harry finally looked at Hermione.
"Why does he get to go?" Harry asked Hermione in a rather childish manner.
"He has no choice but to go," Draco answered for her.
Once out of earshot, Hermione asked Ginny, "What's up with Harry? Why's he acting so strange towards me?"
Ginny shook her head. "I'm not saying anything with him right here!" She said, gesturing towards Malfoy.
"Enough with the pronouns! He has a NAME, you know!" Draco said irritably. Hermione sighed and pulled out her wand. Next thing, Draco's ears had disappeared. He gasped as his hands flew to either side of his head.
"Oh my GOD, woman, what have you DONE to me?" He said in a voice unlike his own. Hermione ignored him and turned to Ginny.
"So now tell me what's up with Harry."
Ginny sighed. "Well..." She started off slowly. "He...he's...kind of...um disappointed...er...frustrated with you..."
"Oh I see. He's mad at me because he believes that rumor about my detention!" Hermione could feel her temper rising. How could her so- called best friend believe such a stupid rumor?
"No, 'Mione, he's angry because...you've changed." Ginny seemed like she was regretting telling her this. Hermione raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Changed?"
"Well...since you've been stuck with Draco, he can kind of...tell that you like him and...well you don't seem to care about him or Ron anymore." Ginny looked at the floor as if it was the most interesting thing at the whole ball. Hermione couldn't believe her ears.
"Now you're siding with him?"
Ginny took her hands. "No, listen, Hermione! You're beginning to like someone who Harry has always despised, and he is afraid he's losing you to some jerk who hates everyone, especially since you don't seem to make much of an effort to ever talk to him!"
Hermione could tell this anger from Ginny was coming from the feelings she felt for Harry. She didn't blame her for that part. Must blow to be with someone who likes your best friend. "what do you mean, I don't make an effort to-"
Ginny interrupted her. "Think about it Hermione! When's the last time you wrote him? When's the last time you talked to him? When's the last time you even spared a 'hello' to him between lessons? He's hurt, Hermione!"
Hermione chose not to say anything to this.
"Now let's just go back over there and try to have a good time, okay?" Ginny said desperately.
Hermione took out her wand and restored Draco's ears to normal. The rest of the way through her mean, all Hermione could think about was what Ginny had said. Had she really been so caught up with her new feelings for Draco, the warning, and the dreams that she didn't even spare a greeting to him in the corridors?
The Weird Sisters had struck up an odd, up-tempo song. As they sipped their butterbeers, Hermione felt Draco's hand inching closer to hers until it was lightly on top of hers. Next thing she knew her small, warm fingers were laced in his large, strong ones. The Weird Sisters began a slow song and many couples went onto the dance floor. Harry asked Ginny to dance, and soon Draco followed suit. They headed toward the middle of the dance floor, still holding hands. It was dark outside now, the only light coming from the eerie glow of the Jack-O- Lanterns and the shining full moon. She thought of Professor Lupin.
Hermione wrapped her arms around Draco's neck and his arms slid around her waist.
Draco's P.O.V
I can't believe I'm here...dancing with a muggle...But god she looks good...I looked at her for a moment and her eyes just melted under my all-powerful beauty...Yes, babe, feel the power...
Ahem.
Hermione's P.O.V
I gazed into Malfoy's metal grey eyes and I just wanted to die. Right there. Yep, on the spot. I had to look away. I caught Ginny's eye over Malfoy's shoulder. She winked at me.
Normal P.O.V
They danced for what seemed like forever. Hermione avoided Draco's grey eyes in fear she would get lost in them Hermione rested her head against Draco's warm chest. Finally she looked up into his eyes. He leaned in to kiss her. Hermione closed her eyes, but just before she did so...
Her eyes snapped open. Over Draco's shoulder, Hermione saw Harry break away from Ginny and head out of the Great Hall. Hermione took Draco by the hand and made after him
"What are you doing, Granger?? Are you bloody crazy?"
Once caught up with Harry, Hermione grabbed his arm.
"Oh, so you're done snogging Malfoy now, are you?" Harry said with a disgusted look on his face. Someone needs to grow up lately.
"Look, Harry, I wanted to tell you I'm-"
"Just go off with him, Hermione, the one who made our lives living hell all through school." At this Draco took a proud bow. "Just leave your 'best friend' for his worst enemy, why don't you?"
"Harry, you-"
"You don't even CARE that you're stuck with him! You don't even TALK to your friends anymore!"
"Harry, LISTEN!"
"Just SHUT UP!" Harry turned away from her.
"Okay. Fine. If you're not even going to let me get a word in edgewise, I'm not even going to TRY and apologize. Just, FORGET it." Hermione choked back a sob.
She took off towards the Room. As Draco was pulled after her, he knew the night was over.
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A/N: Not much to say but review!
