Chapter 13 Raccogliere i Pezzi

For two weeks after the dance, Draco acted casually towards Hermione. Just before winter break, Hermione spotted Bianca alone near the rose garden. As Hermione approached, Bianca gathered her things. "Bianca, may I speak with you?" Looking slightly annoyed, she nodded. "First, I never meant to say such awful things to Draco. Sometimes the wrong words come out, even though I really like him. Is he still interested in me?"

All of the nonsense Draco put Bianca through made her weary. First, Draco pleaded with her to shoo the students away in the infirmary when he smelled Hermione's perfume as she made her way to visit him when the bludger knocked him out. During a romantic interlude in the rose garden, he called Hermione a Mudblood. Idiota! However, he did try to ask Hermione to the dance but she refused, insulting him in the process. Touché! For the last bit of their futile game, Draco seemed convinced that Hermione loved Ron, despite Bianca's assurances to the contrary, so he eased back. Since Bianca felt fed up at this point, she decided to interfere where fate had failed them and in doing so ensure her brother's happiness.

"He's interested in you. Do you appreciate honesty?" Hermione nodded. "Draco flirts with you to see your reaction. Because of his wealth and a certain magnetism he has, he attracts many witches who are mostly interested in his fortune. With them he had minor dalliances, but with you, it's different; I can tell. Obviously, you're not interested in his fortune, or you would have thrown yourself at him already. Nonetheless, please don't trifle with him."

"I don't mean to trifle with him. It's just …nothing." He will want to go all the way quickly, but I can't move that fast.

"I think I know the trepidations you have about Draco. If you talk to him I think he can alleviate your worries. Promise me you'll talk to him, alone, and tell him your worries."

"You have my word."

"We're having a New Year's Celebration at our home. There will be a dinner, followed by dancing and fireworks. Then everyone stays up to watch the first sunrise of the New Year. Draco wanted to invite you but he wasn't sure you would accept. This will be a fabulous surprise, and the perfect opportunity to talk to him."

"If he'll listen to me, I will."

"Draco is very stubborn. You'll need to knock that stubbornness out of him. I am so tired of his moping, that I'll do anything and forgive all the past nonsense, just to see him happy." Bianca finished gathering her things. "Do you have any plans for the next couple of hours?"

"No," she replied.

"C'mon. I was just preparing to leave when you joined me. We are going to do one of my favorite pastimes." Bianca grabbed her arm. "Once Draco sees you, you'll knock that stubbornness right out of him. Hopefully, you will finally get together and stop dancing around each other."

--------------------------------------------------------------

Taking Hermione's hand, Bianca touched a portkey and they landed in front of a small shop that said, "Casa di Moda." Inside the shop, fashions from casual to formal, male to female, and of every color, lined the walls. A small Italian man with white hair and mustache promptly ran up to Bianca and kissed her cheek. "Bianca, I'm so glad you are here. You need something for your New Year's party?" She nodded. "I see you brought a friend."

"Vittoro, this is Hermione. We need something for her also, something that will make my brother breathless."

"So you have captured the heart of the young dragon." He warmly shook her hand. "This way." He showed them a rack of Muggle styled semi-formal ladies' dresses.

Immediately, Bianca picked out a form fitting strapless crimson mini with sparkling thread laced throughout. "Is there a wrap to go with it?"

"I will make one."

Hermione picked a tan silk, pleated knee length dress and showed it to Bianca who shook her head. Then Bianca showed her a dress a bit bolder than Hermione could handle: a dusky rose colored, fitted, spaghetti strap, and asymmetrical semi see-thru beaded top, atop a chiffon slightly pleated angled skirt with a shawl to match. "Bold by design yet innocent by color," she remarked.

"Bianca, I'm not that bold."

"But you want to be…for him," she countered. "You are caught in a classic trap; you are a smart witch, who wants to dress sexy sometimes, but worries that if you do all the wizards will think you are not so smart, or a tramp?"

"Sometimes," Hermione admitted.

"What you think of yourself is more important than what anyone else thinks. As to Draco, he knows you are smart and he knows you're not a tramp. When he sees you in this, he'll be in awe."

"Thank you," Hermione replied.

"With this style of dress, you should wear your hair partially up and let it cascade down in a Grecian fashion. It would drive Draco wild." Bianca removed a small beige parchment envelope from her purse that said "La Festa di San Silvestro." Drawings of fireworks continually exploded on it. "A late dinner will be served at nine. Don't forget an overnight bag, and you need to wear red underwear, because it's Draco's favorite color." Hermione gasped at the implication. "I'm just kidding; it's black followed by emerald green. Red underwear on New Year's Eve brings luck throughout the year. It's an Italian tradition."

"That should be fun. By the way, I'm curious about both Gizelle and your date at the dance. They seemed different that night."

"They are very unique."

"So will they be at the party?"

"Gizelle might be there, and Pierre will be my date that evening. In case you're wondering, they are brother and sister. I will see you at the party." When fate fails, I succeed. You and Draco will get together if it is the last thing I do.