CH. 9 - Yule
A/N: Long chapter ahead. I do hope you enjoy it, it may have been the longest but it was by far the easiest and most fun to write. Once again, I'm not JKR, so none of the characters are mine, just the plot. This also has the first hints of Ginny and Harry romantically, so that's something to look for. As always read, enjoy and review.
Hermione woke up feeling really good, she had a feeling today was going to be extra special. Yes, it was of course the day of the Yule Ball, but something in her gut told her today would be really memorable. She wasn't a Seer in fact she believes that Divination was a load of crock, call it woman's intuition.
As she got ready for breakfast, down in the Slytherin dungeons Draco was just waking up with thoughts of tonight making Hermione his fiancée. He had a really good feeling about today, but like Hermione he didn't put any weight into Divination.
As the students settled in for breakfast in the Great Hall, one student was missing, although few truly noticed his absence. Ron Weasley was still in the Gryffindor common room staring into the fire, once again plotting, this time quietly so as to not alert anyone, like last time. He shuddered at the memory of the blizzard winds that blew him away from the girl he loves.
This'll be perfect, he thought, I'll ask Hermione to dance under the pretense of 'just friends' then when the song ends I'll lean in and kiss her—that stupid spell she put on her and Malfoy won't recognize that I have an ulterior motive. I'll kiss her once quickly then before she can react I'll swoop in and thoroughly snog her, she'll be left so breathless and mesmerized she'll dump Malfoy on the spot, declare her love for me in front of the whole school and we'll be together, like it should be. Ron finished his mental scheme to get Hermione with a wicked chuckle.
(***)
At breakfast, Hermione and Ginny were busy chatting about the upcoming dance, while Ginny was going too, she also helping Hermione and Parvati get ready by doing their hair and make-up. Harry meanwhile was dreading the dance, since he was Hogwarts' champion he had to perform at the opening dance, a Yule Ball tradition. Only problem, Harry couldn't dance. Stopping the Dark Lord as a baby and again as a First Year no problem, but dancing—he shuddered at the thought.
Hermione looked toward Harry as he was picking at his eggs, "Harry what's wrong?"
"The dance," he said flatly.
"What about it?
"I-I can't dance," he said quietly, a brush of red appearing on his cheeks.
Hermione smiled and was about reply when she felt a tap on her shoulder, she looked up as did the rest of Great Hall. There standing looking absolutely perfect despite it being 8:30 in the morning was her boyfriend, Draco Malfoy.
While the school had gotten over it's initial shock of Draco and Hermione as a couple, they still got looks on occasion and the not so subtle glare mainly from Slytherins, usually directed at her. But it was still unprecedented for a Slytherin, let alone Draco Malfoy the Slytherin Prince, to approach the Gryffindor table.
Leaning down Draco gave Hermione a chaste good morning kiss, uncaring that the entire school was watching.
Once they parted, he grinned while she smiled and Harry looked bug-eyed while Ginny smiled coyly.
"To what do owe this morning visit, oh sweet boyfriend of mine?" Hermione said with a smirk that made Draco's chest swell.
"I was wondering if you would care to join me for lunch to discuss tonight?" He said with a boyish grin.
"Draco, I'd love too but Harry has problem. He can't dance."
"And that affects your plans how?" He asked so casually as if they were speaking in the corridors alone.
"Well, I was thinking of teaching him, seeing how he's going have to perform tonight."
"How do you know the steps?"
"Hogwarts: A History. It's a fantastic resource," she said with a teasing grin.
Draco rolled his eyes he should've known. Looking now at Harry he says, "Do you really not know how to dance at all or just the traditional Yule Waltz?"
"Both," Harry says sheepishly. Draco begins to chuckle before Hermione shuts him up with a glare.
Acquiescing he turns to Harry again, "All right Potter, you, the Weaselette, Hermione and myself will all meet in the Room of Requirement at noon sharp, there I will teach you how to dance the Yule Waltz with Hermione''s assistance and a few others so you won't look like a total twit if you plan on staying for the duration of the dance."
Three sets of eyes trained on him intently, did they hear right? Did Draco Malfoy just offer to help Harry Potter? To learn to dance nonetheless.
Hermione was the first to fully recover from the initial shock, "While I appreciate the offer Draco, I think I can handle this one on my own."
"Oh nonsense Hermione, if Potter has two left feet has he claims all of your brilliance won't fix it in a day, he'll need at least two skilled instructors, because I'll be damned if he embarrasses Hogwarts just because the Boy-Who-Lived can't dance."
Sighing Hermione knew Draco was right, as skilled as she was; she'd been taking formal dance lessons since the age of four, Harry was despite everything, a tough student to teach. She should know since she's helped him and Ron with homework pretty much since they arrived.
"You're right. Harry, Ginny are you okay with this?" Ginny who over past few weeks had warmed up to the idea of Draco being good for Hermione nodded enthusiastically.
"Potter?" Draco asked.
"Well since you offered."
"Brilliant, so noon sharp, Room of Requirement. I'll see you then, love" He leans in and kisses Hermione again and swaggers away just as Ron was sitting down.
"What the hell did Malfoy want?" Ron asked bitterly.
Hermione rolled her eyes, honestly does he have start this now? She thought. Hermione was bout to respond when Ginny beat her to it, "Draco," she emphasized, knowing that'll piss Ron off for using his first name, "Was just offering Harry some help in preparation for tonight.
Ron looked at Harry, "What kind of preparations?"
"Dance lessons."
Ron laughed, "You and Malfoy dancing together, oh Merlin that is a sight I'd pay to see."
Hermione and Ginny rolled their eyes.
"No Ron, Malfoy is teaching Harry how to dance with help from me and Hermione," Ginny said finally.
The mention of Hermione's name sobered Ron up, "You're going to let the git touch you?"
Hermione sighed, this jealousy streak of Ron's was really driving her to the brink, "Yes Ronald, I'm going to let my boyfriend touch me, in fact he's done more than that, he's tickled me, held me, hugged me, kissed me there's just one thing we haven't done and that's because I'm not ready yet, but trust me when it does happen, it'll be with Draco and Draco only," she finished with a crossing of her arms.
Immediately Ron turned red, his ears turned a deep pink, his face turned to a scowl and got up a left the Great Hall with food still on his plate.
After a minute, Ginny leaned in toward Hermione and whispered with a smile plastered on her face, "Bravo Hermione," she ended with a nod of approval.
(***)
Harry sighed, standing in front of the Room of Requirement he wondered if this was such a good idea, sure, he tolerated Malfoy for the most part and they were civil to each other, but not quite friends what if Ron was right and he would be dancing with Malfoy as a partner for lessons. The thought thoroughly freaked him out. However, he needed all the help he could get and even if it means dancing with Malfoy; he shuddered, he'll do it.
Thankfully Ginny arrived just as he was about to open the door.
"Oh Ginny, thank the Gods, you don't know how nervous I am," Harry admitted.
Placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, "It'll be fine Harry, I'm sure you'll do fine."
He wasn't going to voice his real fear, instead he opened the door and they entered together.
Stepping into the Room which was now a large dance hall with a birch wood dance floor and a rest area to the side, Harry and Ginny saw Draco and Hermione already there and they also heard music.
It was a slow tango, the only thing the two Gryffindors could do was gawk, the two dancers were just in their Hogwarts uniforms the outer house robes were laying on a chair haphazardly. Draco looked impeccable in his dark trousers, white button down, gray sweater vest with his green Slytherin tie tucked underneath; Hermione looked like a different person in her Gryffindor ensemble which consisted of a white button down, sweater vest her red and gold Gryffindor tie under that, a short gray skirt, black knee-highs and simple Mary-Janes. In her mouth she held a de-thorned red rose as they moved about. Her wild curls seemed to defy gravity as Draco spun her out and she twirled back, as if she were a yo-yo. Once their bodies came back together he grabbed her waist and pushed her impossibly closer to him as they moved again in perfect rhythm. It was like they've done this before, and knowing them and and the history of their relationship they probably have. As Draco led Hermione across the dance floor, stormy grey eyes never leaving her chocolate browns and vice-versa, he dipped and twirled and flipped her as if he weighed next to nothing and it was obvious from the look she gave him she was enjoying it immensely.
When the song ended both panting and sweaty, as Draco led Hermione over to the rest area grabbed two cool and damp towels and then they heard clapping. They turned to look, Harry was still gawking like an idiot while Ginny was smiling broadly and clapping rapidly. She ran over to to Hermione.
"Oh my God, you two looked fantastic, that was beautiful."
"Thanks Ginny," Hermione said as she wiped her face with the damp towel. Eventually she looked toward Harry. "Are you okay?"
Draco looked over at Harry as he saddled up to Hermione wrapping an arm around her, "Merlin Potter, close your mouth you'll catch flies."
Blushing Harry closed his mouth and walk toward the three. "I don't think I can do that."
"What are you talking about, Potter?" Draco asked with a cocked brow.
"That. What you and Hermione just did."
Draco looked at his girlfriend then back at Harry and to Harry's surprise heard him gut laugh, eventually he began to keel over holding his stomach.
Harry began to look at his shoes nervously, "Draco that is enough, you're making him uncomfortable," Hermione scolded.
Righting himself while wiping a single tear of mirth from his eye and letting one last chuckle fall from his lips, "Sorry love, it's just too hilarious."
Hermione glared at him, but quickly softened when she saw that Ginny was grinning too.
"No Potter, what Hermione and I just did is a little too advanced for you, we'll concentrate on the traditional Yule Waltz, a simple box-step and general techniques so that you won't be tripping over your own feet or worse stepping on your partners."
Harry let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "All right when do we get started?"
"Now."
At those words Harry walked up to Draco and waited.
Draco backed up a step, "Uh Potter, what in the bloody hell are you doing?"
"Well you said you were going to teach me."
"Yes, but that doesn't mean I'll be your partner you twit." He heard Hermione and Ginny stifle a laugh. "Oh ha-bloody-ha-ha," Draco said to the girls sarcastically.
He blushed at his faux-pas.
"Now then, Potter you'll be partnered up with Hermione and keep your ruddy hands where I can see them. If you so much as accidentally grab something I'll hex you so bad you'll end up back in First Year. Do I make myself clear?"
Harry nodded.
"Good, now the Weaselette will be my partner. Potter head out with Hermione and let me see what kind of train wreck I'll be dealing with."
Harry did as he was told, and true to his words this morning Harry could not dance to save his life, despite Hermione's gentle guidance and words of encouragement he still manage to step on her toes half a dozen times and tripping over himself twice.
Harry groaned as he stepped off the floor, "Hermione are you okay?"
"Yeah Harry nothing a little magic can't fix." And with a wave of her wand the throbbing of her big toe went away.
"Oh Merlin, Potter that was dreadful," Draco commented. "Watch me," and he led Ginny to the floor. His movements complemented his partner, he smiled at her—actually smirked would be the better term but, she returned it regardless. Ginny was in no means a experienced dancer; being the only girl in a house of all boys, but with Draco she felt and moved as if she'd been dancing for years.
When he righted her Ginny had to blink a few times and slowly exhale to stop her heart from beating so quickly.
"That," Draco pointed to the dance floor as he and Ginny made their way back to Harry and Hermione, "Is how you do the Yule Waltz. Let's take it part by part. Head back out."
As Harry, Hermione and Draco headed toward the dance floor Ginny sat there watching the trio.
Over the next two hours, Hermione and Draco played good cop, bad cop respectively, while teaching Harry the steps to the Yule Waltz and a simple box step. Several times Ginny was called over to help Draco demonstrate the steps to both dances. After her latest go with Draco, Ginny sat down and suddenly felt a wave of jealousy roll through her. She jealous of Hermione. She has the perfect life; excellent grades, the teachers adored her, she is brave and confident, and she has a gorgeous redeemed bad boy for a boyfriend and things were pretty serious between the two. She wasn't planning on stealing Draco from Hermione, because she was pining for Harry, but so far he hasn't noticed her as anything but his best friends' little sister. She was really agitated with that fact.
Suddenly Draco voiced boomed causing her to snap out from her reverie.
"For Merlin sake's Potter, we've been at this for over two hours and you've only showed moderate improvement, I swear I'm extremely tempted to just charming your feet so that you can dance! I cannot believe the Boy-Who-Lived who defeated Voldemort the first time as a baby can't bloody do a simple box step!" Draco yelled.
"Draco, yelling won't help Harry's doing the best he could, come on one more time," Hermione said softly.
"All right love, for you," he smiled at her. "Please for the love of Godric, get it right this time. The girls still need to get ready for the Ball which starts," he checks his pocket watch, "In two and a half hours."
"Okay, I'll try."
"No Potter, don't try, you've been trying this whole bloody time, just do. Relax and just do."
Harry nodded, he wanted this to be perfect he certainly didn't want to embarrass himself. Draco started the music and Harry miraculously did the Yule Waltz like a pro.
"Once more to make sure it wasn't a fluke," Draco instructed.
Harry nodded, this time full of confidence. He did the Waltz again perfectly.
"Oh thank sweet Salazar!" Draco proclaimed as he dropped onto a conjured up chair.
Harry beamed, while Hermione smiled, "You did it Harry!"
"I couldn't have without you, and you too Malfoy, thank you."
"You're welcome. Now I think it's time the girls hurried along to get ready," he said as he ushered the girls away, but not before grabbing Hermione and kissing her good-bye passionately.
"I'll see you soon, Hermione."
She blushed as Ginny took her hand and they rushed out of the Room of Requirement the door shutting behind them.
As Harry began to walk out, Draco called to him.
"Hold on Potter."
Harry turned around, "What is it, Malfoy?"
"I was wondering if you could do me a favor."
This took Harry by surprise, the old Draco hated asking for favors and never did, not even from his own housemates. But after Malfoy spent so long with him this afternoon it was the least he could do.
"What is it?"
"Can you keep a secret?"
Harry nodded.
"Promise me you will not blab this anyone?"
Harry nodded, but was also getting worried.
"What is it?" Relenting he said, "I swear on my Seeking ability, if I tell a soul may I lose it."
Draco grinned.
"All right, I'm going to ask Hermione to marry me tonight."
Harry's eyes bulged, "Marry you?! Aren't you a little too young?"
"That is beside the point, will you help me or not?"
Sighing he acquiesced, "What do I have to do?"
"Keep Weasley from blowing his top. I know how he feels about her and I know about his anger issues, if my proposal is to be a success I need Weasley to be kept calm and if need be away from Hermione. There is no telling what he'll do if he hears her answer. In addition if he does anything that hurts her tonight I'm going to need somebody to hold me back because my hand, not my wand will bloody up him up. So can I count you to do that?"
Harry looked at Draco for a long moment, "You really love her don't you?"
"With everything I have. Trust me when I say this, if tomorrow I no longer have my family name and reputation, as long as I have Hermione I'll do anything to make sure she happy and comfortable."
"You would give up being a Malfoy to be with Hermione?"
"Yes," Draco said with the utmost seriousness.
Nodding after another moment's thought, "All right, I'll help you."
"Good man," Draco said as he extended a hand.
Harry hesitated a second for shaking it, and they too left the Room.
(***)
Up in Gryffindor Tower, Hermione was watching as Ginny expertly applied foundation, blush and and light lipstick to her own face. Hermione was not as some would call a "girly-girl" so she never learned nor cared about make-up and lipstick. Even on dates with Draco, she wore just a hint of lipgloss and that was all. As Ginny began doing her hair, cheating somewhat by casting a spell on a brush and a pair of glove to actually tie her hair, Hermione spoke, "Ginny is something wrong? You've hardly said two words since we got to the Tower."
"No, nothing's wrong it's just, watching you and Malfoy today made me kind of jealous."
"Jealous? Of whom?"
"Jealous of you, it seems you have everything put together. You're confident, smart, brave and you have a loving and caring boyfriend who I know half the girls here would just drop dead if he so much as smiles at them. You have everything and me, I'm still trying to get Harry to notice me. Did you know he thought of asking Cho Chang and Parvati Patel and not once thought of asking me?"
"Oh Ginny, Harry will notice you, in fact I'll bet he'll notice you a lot more once he sees you in your new dress robes."
Ginny smiles at Hermione's reflection in the mirror. Gods she hopes so.
Once she was done, Hermione replaced her as Ginny begins on her make-up and hair.
Exactly two hours and 20 minutes later, because of Hermione's mass of unruly hair, three witches emerged from the girls' dormitory, Parvati sneaking in halfway through Hermione hair treatment.
(***)
As Hermione, Ginny and Parvati walked down the stairs, their dates were nervously waiting—well just Harry and Neville—Draco was the poster boy of cool, until he saw Hermione emerge.
Draco's presence in the Gryffindor common room unnerved some and it was another unprecedented event, not once had a Slytherin entered the Gryffindor common room, ever during all their years here. But he paid them no mind.
When he saw Hermione walk down the stairs, the cool aura around him melted, he was speechless, she looked gorgeous, incredible, just perfect. She wore subtle make-up, natural shades, very faint blush and light pink lipstick; it was the first time he'd seen her with actual lipstick, usually she stuck to her favorite strawberry lipgloss which Draco loved to taste every time they kissed. Her bushy hair was tamed into a complex up-do with ringlets falling from the sides. Her dress, Merlin her dress, was a beautiful satin and silk pink number with frills starting from her waist and continuing in layers all the way down. Merlin, she looked gorgeous.
When she reached him, she smiled as she sized him up too, he was dressed in a simple black and white formal set of dress robes, but she knew that it was probably worth more than all of the other robes in the room put together. It undoubtably was made of the finest materials, nothing but the best for a Malfoy, she mused. His platinum blonde hair was free-falling and looked impeccable.
"Hermione you look…," he cleared his throat and tried again, "You look…," he tugged on his collar and she smiled brighter.
"Thank you Draco, you look very handsome."
He smiled and offered her his arm, she took it.
Ginny looked at Hermione and Draco and a pang of jealousy rushed over her again, but she quickly quelled it, as Neville offered his arm after complimenting her and Harry did the same to Parvati.
(***)
As the three couples headed to the Great Hall, Ginny spoke, "Has anyone seen, Ron?"
Harry and Neville shook their heads, "He wasn't in the dormitory getting ready," Harry supplied.
"Did he manage to get a date?"
"Yeah, my sister agreed to go with him, although he didn't seem to happy," Parvati answered.
"Oh."
When they reached the Great Hall, Harry and Parvati separated from the group, since he was one of the three champions he was to enter first.
Once the champions, had entered with their dates, Fleur Delacour with Roger Davies, Harry with Parvati Patel and Viktor Krum with Susan Bones, the rest of the attendees entered.
Soon the Ball began with a speech by Dumbledore and Yule Waltz being performed by the champions and then The Weird Sisters started play a slow ballad, at which point Draco asked Hermione to dance and she accepted. Hogwarts' "Hot couple" as Lavender Brown dubbed them, stayed on the dance floor for another three dances.
All the while, the participants were having a grand time, Harry impressed Parvati during the Yule Waltz and during another dance, silently he was grateful to Malfoy. Harry and Parvati, Neville and Ginny danced and laughed with one another before swapping dance partners. At which time, Harry got extremely nervous around Ginny.
The one person who wasn't having any fun was Ron who sat at his table refusing a dance from Padma, before she stalked away. Ron sat there sulking and cursing Malfoy under his breath for monopolizing Hermione. He had yet to put his plan into motion.
As they stayed on the dance floor for fourth straight dance, this time a slow love song by a guest singer, a crowd had encircled them, and a spotlight was now showering down on them. As Hermione rested her head on Draco's shoulder, and he placed his hands on her waist and they just rocked back and forth mostly in one spot, Ron shot them a glare of disgust.
As Harry sat down net to his best friend for the first time, he asked, "Ron, what's wrong mate?"
"Malfoy," Ron said sullenly.
"What about him?"
"He's monopolizing Hermione that's what, that's the fourth straight dance they've performed together."
"So he has a right, he is her date and her boyfriend after all."
"Not for long if I can help it," Ron muttered inaudibly.
"What was that?"
"Nothing. I'm gonna see if I can cut in." He got up and walked toward the dance floor just as the song ended. Another song was about to begin, but the couple in the center hadn't moved, all eyes were trained on them; students, teachers and the band was silent for the moment.
Draco looked at the girl, no woman, in his arms and began, "Hermione," softly.
"Yes Draco?" She replied equally as soft. The look in Draco's eyes was a look she didn't recognize, usually his eyes told what his mouth and body would say but this time he was unreadable.
"Hermione, I love you, I don't care what anybody says you are my one and only. If tomorrow, I no longer have my reputation and name, I wouldn't care as long as I'm with you. You told me you see a future for us. I see it too, though not as clear as you, but it includes you, by my side,"
The tension in the Great Hall was building, no one dared to move or speak lest they miss another word spoken.
"I don't want you to feel as if this is they end of your dreams and ambitions so I won't force to give up your dreams, I'll support you all the way in anything you do. I just want everyone to know soon you'll be all mine. So, therefore," as Draco got down on one knee, squeals and gasps through the Great Hall, Hermione cupped her hand over her mouth and was tearing up while Harry quickly moved to be close to Ron, as per his promise to Draco. "Hermione Jean Granger, my love now and forever, will you marry me?" And he produced a ring box.
A loud and sudden scream of, "Noo!" caused everyone to turn toward the outburst.
Ronald Weasley was fuming but, was being held back by Harry for the moment.
"Harry, let me go! I'm going to slug the bloody ferret!"
"No Ron, this doesn't concern you," Harry said forcefully.
"The hell it doesn't, the git just asked the girl of dreams to marry him, how is this not my bloody concern?"
"Because, she doesn't love you." Several gasps were heard.
"Y-you don't know that!"
"Yes I do, she loves him and he loves her more than anything."
"How do you know? Since when are you the ferret's best friend?"
"I'm not his best friend, he simply told me today. So leave them be."
Anger raising once more, Ron overpowered Harry and charged for Draco, but he was blocked by Ginny, Fred and George.
"Move! Can't you see she's going to make the biggest mistake of her life?"
"Then let her make it, it's her life—," Fred said seriously. "You have no say in what she does, she's with him not you." George finished as equally as serious.
"B-b-but!" He stammered.
"No buts Ronald, either calm down or leave, you're making a scene," Ginny said glaring.
Anger raising once more, but seeing how was outnumbered, Ron left with a huff but not before yelling, "This isn't over Malfoy, Hermione will never be yours."
After several tense moments had past the Great Hall focused in on the couple in the center once more.
Draco looked over at the remaining Weasleys and Potter and nodded in thanks before turning and looking up at Hermione.
Hermione who had also looked at her friends, nodded and turned to Draco.
"Well Hermione? Will you marry me? We can have the longest engagement in history or be married tomorrow I don't care as long as I have you by my side."
"Yes. Yes, Draco. Yes, a million times, yes!"
Draco smiled as he slipped the enchanted ring which conformed to Hermione's finger on her left hand.
Immediately a roar of applause and cheers filled the Great Hall, including surprisingly a few Slytherins.
As they were being congratulated by the encircling crowd as they moved toward their table, Dumbledore stood, applauded and spoke, "Well, this is wonderful news especially at this time of year, congratulations to the happy couple, you've thus far showed that inter-house isn't just being civil toward one another but also looking past each other's pasts, forgiving one another and finding the one you'll love. Two hundred points to Slytherin and Gyffindor. Also to Mr Potter and the Weasley siblings I reward 15 points for standing up for what is right and not backing down even against family, well done."
Shortly after, the Ball resumed normal service as the band began playing again and the attendees danced their fill.
Once Draco and Hermione sat down they were quickly joined by the Weasley siblings.
Ginny begged to see the ring and Hermione gladly obliged.
Meanwhile, Draco spoke to Potter and the Weasley Twins. "Thank you, thank you for all you said and did to defuse a potentially volatile situation."
"You're welcome, I promised I'd help you after all," Harry said with a smile.
"Yeah, but I didn't expect you two," Draco looked at Fred and George.
"Hermione's like a sister to us—," George said, "And we've been watching you two, so we know your intentions are pure," Fred finished.
"But you know this means—," Fred starts, "You now owe us," George finishes with his own version of the Malfoy smirk.
Draco laughed, "I guess I do."
E/N: You probably know by now that the setting is Fourth Year during the Triwizard Tournament and is slightly alternate reality, I've tried to keep it as cannon as possible and as in character as possible. Again I hoped you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.