Slippery Soap Suds
A/N: To all those who were wondering what Hermione's dress looks like, I purposely did NOT describe it down in chap 7 so it would be a bit thrill thrill! LOL and in this chappie, I'm giving you just a teensy sneak peek...damn I'm sooo not good in fashion stuff but if you do have any suggestions for Hermione's dress, I'm definitely going to think about it. To Jennifer-marie, I hope u cud still read this. Sorry if it didn't reach before Friday. Oh well..teehee…
To everyone else: Can't wait for the ball too!hahha
I love y'all! I love y'all so much! ;p Just keep on reviewin' and I'll keep on ficcing! Wink (EDIT: OMG I'm so fucking cheesy lol)
Chapter VIII: Pretending to be Cinderella
Trembling moments pass us by
Shivering glances shoot straight through the water
Then
The still silent whisper of the setting sun
As embraces get warmer by the hour
Hermione sighed and closed her eyes. She has always been a poetry buff. There is just something about putting random words together and letting them actually mean something that awes her. How could some people convey such great emotions with such a few words? Tschokoksky…you never fail to enchant me…
"Aren't you preparing for the winter dance?" A voice startled her.
"I – uh," Hermione's expression changed from surprise to bitterness as Draco sat on the library floor beside her. So freakingly close. "Oh, it's you." What is this prat doing here?
"Yeah, yeah…" Draco pressed on.
"You seem to be making this a habit…this, this popping everywhere when I'm alone." Hermione ranted, flipping through the pages of her book without even reading a thing. "You're annoying me, you know."
Malfoy ignored that last remark. "So why aren't you excited when every other girl is?"
Hermione faced him. "Tell me. Are you excited? Knowing that this is the last day of your single life? Knowing that this will be the last day before you marry someone you can't stand? Knowing that you will be living a life of hell with the devil? Are you happy!"
Draco made a face. "Oh, you're overreacting…"
"Overreacting!"
"Look, we didn't choose for this to happen!" Draco said, trying to let her see his point. Mudbloods are so hard to get along with. "Let's just think of this as some game of pretend or something…"
"Right…" Hermione snorted. "And what do you think of me? A friggin' retard?"
"Close…"
"Aargh!" Hermione rolled her eyes. "I just can't understand you!"
"Same here!" Draco retorted. "What are you so afraid of? It's not like we're being forced to…LOVE each other…" He paused. "Now that would be horror!"
"YOU don't understand…" Hermione insisted. "…because you don't have somebody…oh forget it…"
Draco looked at her. "Lemme guess…"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Don't play games with me…"
Draco forced her to face him. "Mudblood, you've got to learn to get along with me if you plan to hold the Malfoy name."
"I never planned to…" She released herself from his grasp.
"We've been forced to… Here!" He threw a small flask at Hermione.
"What's this?"
"Madam Pomfrey's vanishing cream…for you-know-what." With that, he stood and started to walk away. "See you at the ball…"
"What makes you think I'd be going?"
"Potter." He faced her. "Who else?" She thought for a moment she'd seen a glint of sadness in his eyes…but dismissed the thought as fast as it had come. She knew he was right. Again.
-.-.-.-.-
"Where's my lip gloss?"
"Merlin, my hose is missing!"
"Somebody bring me a bloody ice bag! I'm bleeding!"
The girls' quarters were in utter chaos. Make-up, underwear and blood were everywhere. It was a sadist's dream come true.
The night finally came. The winter dance. Time check – 5: 00 PM. Two more hours and it would officially start.
Hermione tried to push the thought of the next day away. Tonight would be the night of all her single nights. She would enjoy tonight, if it were the last thing she'd have to force out of herself. She began breathing deeply. Calm down, Hermione… Be in control.
"You alright there, Herm – What in bloody hell are you wearing!" Ginny yelled at her, as she saw Hermione's "finished" state.
"The dress we got yesterday," Hermione replied. "What's wrong with you?"
Ginny slapped her forehead. "Hermione Hermione Hermione… This is not – " she took off the shawl Hermione had tobacco-wrapped around herself " – NOT the way you wear a backless gown."
Hermione sulked, covering her back. "Ginny! I feel like a porn star!"
"Lucky you!" Ginny scrutinized the older girl – from her frizzy hung hair down to her black flats. She sighed, shaking her head. "Sometimes, I think you're lesbian."
"WHAT!"
"Well, you don't know how to dress like a girl! I mean, a normal teenage girl!" Ginny explained. "And the influence of Harry and my oh-so-great brother is not helping to hone your femininity. Sometimes, you should hang out with me."
Hermione took a quick look at Ginny's orange highlights, her Harajuku make-up, and her handmade tiara. Maybe next time…
Ginny got a brush and began combing Hermione's hair, styling it into a bun.
"What are you doing?" Hermione asked in horror. Ginny's not thinking of giving me a makeover, right?
"Saving your life," Ginny answered casually. Oh no, she is… "Now sit back and don't say a word or I'll tell everyone about how you and that Slytherin git made out!"
"But I didn't!" Hermione replied, blushing. What the hell! Does everyone in Hogwarts think that way? On second thought, yes, they are probably thinking that way.
"Exactly!" Carefully, Ginny wrapped the shawl around Hermione's bun. The cascading effect was perfectement! She searched the girl's drawer and replaced Hermione's plain gold earrings with tiny dangling jade. ("See, why didn't you use this stuff in your drawer?" Ginny had cried.) For the finishing touch, she placed a green brooch on her dress.
Hermione grinned in surprise. At first, she was afraid Ginny would make her look tacky. But, she actually liked the alterations!
"Oh and wear these!" Ginny threw a pair of stilettos at Hermione's feet.
"Aw, Ginny… Thanks a lot!" Yet Hermione faced a disappointed – looking girl. "What's wrong?"
"Something's missing…" Ginny muttered. Then her eyes lit up. "Hermione, turn around."
"What? I think it's enough…"
"Just turn around!"
"Okay…" Hermione followed Ginny's order even though she wasn't really sure about it. Suddenly, she felt a soft stinging on her back. "Ow…What have you done to me?" She faced her questioningly.
"Nothing…" Ginny replied. "I changed my mind…" But there was a satisfied smile on her face.
Hermione's brow arched up. "Really…"
"Yeah yeah…Do you feel anything different? No. So there."
Hermione still felt something was a bit fishy. But it didn't matter. The pain was gradually fading. Ginny slipped her arm into Hermione's and said, "Now, half the boys would salivate over you!"
"Half?"
Ginny giggled. "The other half would be too busy staring at me!"
-.-.-.-.-
A/N: LOL this is such a short chapter…what? I couldn't think of anything more to add… So wanna gimme a review? I accept flames (and hope that the flamer burns in hell everyday)… haha You do know I was joking there, right? Right.
p.s. pls. give me your ideas about Hermione's dress too… Would lurve it! And if you have any ideas about what Malfoy and Harry would wear, ok, tell me.