Disclaim ~ I do not own anything. Well I came up with the plot but it wouldn't have been possible without the help of those lovely characters created by J K Rowling.
A.N.~ Hey everyone! So I hope you all like this chapter. If you go to my profile you will find a link to see the outfits and costumes that I use in my story. Enjoy!
The next few weeks went by slowly and Hermione was no better then she was that night. She had spent the rest of the weekend after the attack, locked up in her room, not allowing anyone in to see her except for Dobby, who brought her food. Harry, Ron, and Ginny had grown overly worried when they hadn't heard from her and had been harassing Draco constantly. He did as Hermione asked and told them in his own Malfoy way that she was ill and to fuck off. Of course they should have realized that they would never believe him and Hermione ended up having Dobby go and tell them so they would stop worrying. With the way they were acting Hermione was worried about seeing them that Monday knowing they would ask questions. To her surprise though they barely asked her anything except if she was feeling better. It seemed that they didn't notice the difference in her at all, and if they did they didn't care to ask about it. While her friends didn't notice the change, Draco did. He had been keeping a close eye on her the past few weeks and he had noticed she kept a strict routine. She sat quietly, barely eating during meals in the Great Hall, instead of joining into the conversations and correcting her fellow classmates as she usually did. She was now always the last one to class sitting by herself in the back of the room instead of up front with Harry and Ron. She never raised her hand to answer the professor's questions, causing her to get awkward glances from the professors. If she wasn't barely eating in the Great Hall or barely speaking in class then she was locked up in her dorm room. She didn't go to the library anymore, or to the quidditch matches. She didn't visit her friends in the Gryffindor common room and she didn't take walks by the lake. Draco could see that she was dying inside and he couldn't understand why her so called friends couldn't. He also couldn't figure out when he started caring about her. He knew that part of it was because of the haunted look in her eyes, a look he had seen only on one other person, his mother. He always hated seeing that look in his mother's eyes. The one that just told you that the person was dead inside. His father put that look in his mother's eyes after years of mental and physical abuse, not only to her but to him as well. His mother could not stand to see her little boy be beaten and would deliberately try to turn his father's attention on her. It almost always worked and in the end she would be left a little more broken. When his father was sent to Azkaban and they were informed that he would be receiving the dementor's kiss you could see the life return to her eyes. They were finally going to be free of him and it filled her with joy. Draco had hoped to never see that look in a person's eyes ever again. Now he wanted nothing more then to get that look out of Hermione's eyes.
It was a couple of days before the Halloween Ball and Draco was in the common room getting it ready for the prefects meeting, conjuring up extra chairs. Hermione was trying to rest, since she barely slept. He was just finishing up when he heard a crash from Hermione's room. He quickly ran up the stairs and banged on her door, calling out to her.
"Granger! You okay in there?" He waited for a response but didn't receive one. "Granger! Answer me!" Still nothing. He was about to yell again but heard a soft sob come from the room. "Granger I'm coming in." Draco pulled out his wand and started undoing the locks and charms she had placed on the door. He had overheard her one day when she didn't know he was there. He thought it would be a good idea to remember which charms she used just in case. Now he was glad he did. After lifting the last charm, Draco opened the door and ran in, stopping abruptly at the sight in front of him. Hermione was curled up on the floor, surrounded by what looked to be the broken glass from her vanity mirror and brown curly locks of hair. She had a pair of what looked like two blades held together by black plastic clutched tightly in her hand, pieces of her hair clinging to the blades. Never taking his eyes off of her, Draco walked over to her slowly, stopping before he reached the glass. He pointed his wand at the mess, and said, "EVANESCO", causing it to disappear. He walked over and keeled down in front of her. "Hermione?" He took a chance that using her name would get her to respond, and he was right. She looked up at him, tears running down her face, her eyes wide with terror. He glanced at the sharp blades still in her hand and slowly reached his hand towards her. "Let me see the blades Hermione." She looked at him oddly for a second before realizing what he was asking for. She looked at the object in her hand.
"Scissors." She said softly.
"I'm sorry?" Draco questioned.
"They are called scissors." She answered handing them to him. Draco turned and placed them on the vanity before turning back to look at the girl who was now staring at him. Draco could see that she had cut off chunks of her hair in jagged uneven pieces.
"What have you done?" He asked, and looked down at the floor.
"I hate looking at the girl in the mirror. I don't know who she is. Her eyes are always red from crying, her hair is dull and limp, her body is frail and broken. I don't want to see that girl anymore. I don't want to be that girl!" Draco just watched as the Gryffindor princess broke down in front of him. He moved closer to her and sat cross legged, offering his hand to her. To his surprise she took it and he gently pulled her into his lap holding her as she sobbed into his chest. "It just won't go away Draco! Every night I relive it. I see it happening! I feel it happening! Why won't it go away? Why won't the memories just leave?" Draco just sat there and let her get it all out. He knew how badly she wanted to forget. He had caught her about to obliviate herself one night, but he stopped her before she could. Obliviating her mind would make her forget not only the attack but everything up to the point of obliviation. The professors and her friends would surely ask questions and it would eventually come out and the pain would start all over again. Also it was possible that the spell could backfire and she could forget a hell of a lot more then she wanted to. He told her that if he caught her trying it again that he would go straight to Dumbledore and tell him everything. He hated doing it to her but he felt, for her safety, he had no choice. Now though as he watched her break down, he wished he had not made his promise in the first place. She really needed to talk to someone and quick, but he promised not to tell anyone in the school and he had to stand by his promise. Draco heard a loud knock coming from the common room door. Shit! The prefects meeting.
"Hermione," he said figuring that they might as well stay on a first name basis. "We have the prefects meeting. Do you want to come down, or should I handle it?" Hermione pulled back and looked at him.
"No, I'll come down." They both stood up and Draco could now see the full damage of what she had done to her hair. Hermione saw him looking at her hair and remembered what she had done. She reached up a touched it, horrified at what she felt. Draco looked around and spotted a large clip on the vanity. He grabbed it and handed it to her.
"Here. Put it up for now and we will fix it later. I'm going to go let the prefects in, while you freshen up a bit, alright." Hermione nodded and Draco left the room, to let the others in.
Hermione couldn't believe what she had done. She had completely destroyed her hair. Not only that but she also had a complete break down in front of Draco. Calling him Draco an awful lot Hermione. What is that all about? Hermione shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. As weird as it was, Draco was the only person she actually felt comfortable with. She had barely spoken to anyone since her attack, and she could barely be around any of the guys with out cringing. With Draco though she didn't have the same terror and dread run through her body the way it did around the other guys. For some reason he made her feel at ease, as if nothing could happen to her as long as he was around. Could it be that you are developing feelings for Draco? Hermione was startled by her own thoughts. She could NOT have feelings for him. It was just unnatural, hell them being civilized to one another was unnatural. No, no. She did not have feelings for him, she was just grateful to him. He just happened to be the person who was there when she needed someone, and she was grateful for that. Yes. Thats what all this is about Hermione. Nothing more. She could hear everyone down in the common room so she quickly pulled her hair up in a messy twist, fastening it with the clip Draco had handed her. She then walked into the bathroom and splashed some cold water on her face before casting a quick concealment charm to cover the dark circles around her eyes. Luckily all of her bruising had finally faded into nothing so she didn't have to worry about concealing them anymore. After one last look, and a deep calming breath, she headed down stairs.
Draco had let all the prefects in and they were now all sitting and chatting with each other while they waited for the Head Girl to appear. Draco kept glancing at the stairs nervously, wondering if he should go check on her.
"Whats going on Malfoy?" He turned to see the Weaselette standing behind him with her hands on her hips.
"What are you talking about?" He asked, before glancing at the staircase again.
"Thats what I'm talking about. You keep staring at the stairs as if your worried about something." She narrowed her eyes at him. "Did you do something to Hermione?"
"What? No." He said to her, slightly insulted.
"Don't lie to me Malfoy. Hermione has been acting strangely for weeks. Actually ever since you two went shopping for the ball and she got sick. What happened Malfoy? What did you do?" Draco was about to respond but a voice stopped him.
"Leave him alone Ginny. Draco hasn't done anything to me. I'm just a little stressed out. It will eventually pass. Now lets get this meeting started." Hermione walked over to her chair and sat down leaving a slightly bewildered Ginny behind.
"Did she just call you..." Ginny looked at Draco.
"What? Draco? Well that is my name. You see Ginerva some of us have decided that it was time to grow up. Not all of us want to continue to live in the past." He proceeded to walk to his chair. "Okay! Everyone sit down." He watched as everyone quieted and sat down. He saw Ginny go over and sit with Lavender and Ron, who kept glancing over at Hermione with a sad and almost pitying look on his face. "Right then. As you all know this Saturday evening is the Ball. You will all meet the Head Girl and myself after lunch in the Great Hall to decorate it. Dinner will be served at five in your common rooms since the hall will not be of use due to the decorating. All students costumes will appear in their dorm room at six so make sure that they are in their dorms. The ball starts at eight. First through third years have a curfew of eleven, fourth and fifth midnight, sixth and seventh one a.m. You all have assigned jobs for the evening, and they are as follows." He turned to look at Hermione who took out a piece of parchment and stood up, reading it nervously out loud.
"First off you will be in charge of escorting your year back to there dorm rooms since you will be leaving the ball at the same time, however seventh years will escort the first through third years. Now for house assignments. Ravenclaws. Anthony, Padma, Luna, Marcus, Orla and Stewart. You six are in charge of emptying the Great Hall of everything in it. Slytherins. Blaise, Pansy, Harper, Hestia, Malcom, and Mafalda. You six
are in charge of decorating the entrance to the Great Hall. Hufflepuffs. Hannah, Ernie, Tamsin, Herbert, Laura, and Kevin. You six will be helping the house elves in the kitchen, making sure that everything we ordered has been delivered. Last but not least Gryffindors. Lavender, Ron, Ginny, Colin, Romilda, and Jimmy. You guys will be helping us decorate inside the hall. As the rest of you finish your tasks you should come into the hall and help us finish up." Hermione sat down signaling that she was finished. Draco was a little surprised that she gave out the assignments. That had been the most anyone had heard her say in weeks. Draco heard a throat clear causing him to turn and look at the group who were now quietly staring at him. Coming to his senses he dismissed them and watched as they all left, all that is except Ron.
"Can I do something for you Weasley." Ron gave him a glare before walking over to Hermione who watched him approach warily.
"What do you want Ron?" She asked him as he knelt down in front of her.
"I want my best friend back. So does Harry and Ginny. I'm so sorry Mione. I never knew you would react like this." Hermione scrunched her face up in confusion. Even Draco was looking at Ron as if he had grown an extra head.
"What are you talking about Ron? Why are you apologizing?" Ron stood up and ran his hands through his red hair.
"Well its obvious, isn't it. You can't get over me choosing Lavender. I mean I knew you fancied me but I didn't realize how much." Draco watched as Hermione's jaw dropped at Ron's words. Draco himself was trying very hard not to laugh at the stupid git in front of him, but couldn't help the snort that came out causing Ron to turn towards him."Do you mind ferret! We are trying to have a private conversation here. Don't you have some first years to harass or something? Go on now. Leave!" Draco was about to put the annoying Gryffindor in his place but Hermione beat him to it.
"Ron. Get out!" Draco could see that Hermione was beyond angry at her friend. Ron looked surprised.
"But Mione we..." Hermione jumped to her feet, her whole body shaking in anger.
"I said get out you self-absorbed, prat! I can not believe you really think that I am upset because of you and Lavender. I got over that whole thing a long time ago but you have been so absorbed in yourself and your relationship that you didn't notice. None of you noticed anything. Best friends! Right. If you were really my friends it wouldn't have taken you all so long to see that something was wrong! Now GET OUT!" Hermione spun on her heel and ran up to her room slamming the door behind her. Draco turned from the staircase and looked at a clearly shocked Ron.
"Well you heard her Weaslebee. Get out." Ron came out of his stupor and walked over to stand toe to toe with Malfoy.
"I don't know what you did to her Malfoy but I'm going to find out and when I do..." Draco cut him off pushing him away from him.
"You'll do what Weasel, hex me. I don't think so. Now get out!" He watched as an angry Ron huffed his way out of the common room. Once Draco new he was gone he went up to check on Hermione. He knocked and entered when she told him to. He found her touching her hair that she had let out of the clip it had been in. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with unshed tears.
"Can you believe him. Thinking that my life revolves around him and the decisions he makes. How can he honestly call me his best friend? How can any of them?" Draco shrugged before answering.
"They don't deserve you as a friend. You deserve better." Hermione surprised him when she let out a small laugh.
"I don't think I ever thought you would say something like that to me." Draco looked at her.
"Well its true. Now then lets do something about that hair of yours." He offered her his hand and she took it, feeling a slight tingle run up her her arm as their hands connected. What in bloody hell was that? She thought, looking from their hands and up to Draco who also was looking at their hands strangely. She watched as he shook his head as if trying to clear his mind, before he looked at her and tugged her towards the bathroom. Did he feel it too?
Saturday arrived and Hermione, Draco, and all of the prefects were working hard to get the Great Hall ready. By four in the evening they were done and the place looked amazing. The entrance had been transformed with a black crypt silhouette covering the wall and the doors were changed from wood to metal. Pansy, much to Hermione's dismay, came up with the idea to charm the floor to look like grass covered in leaves and branches. They put up gravestones, fake spider webs, fake bats that they would later enchant to fly around the scene. They finished it off with a black, metal fence that surrounded the scene and made a light mist float about an inch above the ground. Inside the Great Hall look just as great, if not better. The ceiling was enchanted to look like a stormy sky, lightning and thunder included. The walls were covered in fake spider webs and fake spiders. The tables had been replaced with table sized pumpkins that could fit about six people each and the chairs looked like they were made of bones. The ground had a layer of fog floating across it, helping give the room an eerie feel. It was about four thirty when they finished so they all headed back to their dorms to eat and get ready. Before she could get to far away Ron stopped Hermione, grabbing her arm. Hermione let out a yelp as she pulled away from him. Ron stepped away from her with his hands in the air.
"Sorry Mione I didn't mean to scare you." She just stared at him, shifting from one foot to the other.
"Its fine Ron. What do you want?" Ron looked down at the ground before answering.
"I just wanted to say sorry about what happened after the prefects meeting. I know I was stupid with what I said. Its just that you've been acting a little mental lately and we are all just worried about you." Hermione stepped forward and gave Ron a small embrace, before stepping back quickly.
"Thank you Ron. I accept your apology. I've just had a lot going on lately and its just taking its toll I guess."
"Well you know we are here for you Mione. When ever you need us." Hermione gave him a fake smile, nodded and headed up to get ready, the whole time thinking that they would never understand her. Not the way Draco did.
Draco stood in the shadows and watched as Hermione and Ron talked. He watched her give him a small hug and couldn't help the surge of anger that flew threw him. He turned around and headed to the common room, his head filled with questions but no answers. Why in the hell did seeing them hug upset me so much? If it was anyone else he had been watching he would have thought he was jealous of what he saw, but that was preposterous. In order to be jealous I would have to have feelings for her, and I don't. Yep. Keep telling yourself that and you may eventually grow to believe it. Draco shook his head trying to rid himself of the annoying voice of his conscience.
"I don't have feelings for her." He murmured to himself as he reached the portrait to the common room. He looked up and said the password. He noticed the lion was giving him a knowing smirk and the snake was shaking his head at him. "I don't" He told them.
"You don't what?" He turned around to find Hermione standing behind him. He shook his head and turned away walking through the portrait. They found dinner waiting for them so they sat down and ate in silence. Draco noticed that every now and then Hermione would glance over at him, sometimes opening her mouth as if to say something but shutting it quickly before any words would come out. When they were done they both headed up to their rooms to get ready. Sure enough at exactly six a package appeared on each of their beds. Draco pulled out his costume, which turned out to be a Greek Spartan Warrior. The costume consisted of a brown cape, wrap, helmet, cuffs, and sandals. There was no top, leaving his chest bare. Draco took a quick shower, got dressed and then quickly cast a glamour to cause his skin to look tan instead of pale. He grabbed the helmet and as he went to put it on his last thought before being transported to outside the Great Hall was what was Hermione going to be.
Hermione took her shower after Draco, the entire time wondering about what happen outside the portrait. Hermione had to admit that after her recent breakdown she had started to feel a little better. She wasn't anywhere near being recovered or forgetting about what happened, but she wasn't crying all the time now, and she had actually been sleeping. She knew that a large part of this change in her was because of Draco. He didn't do much but he was there when she needed him to be and she couldn't help but appreciate that. After finishing up in the bathroom, Hermione walked into her room and noticed her costume on her bed. She opened the package and her eyes widened as she read the tag, which said Venus Goddess Of Beauty. She pulled out the costume which consisted of a beautiful, white dress with petals around the waist and golden lacing decorating the bottom trim. It had a gauzy looking cape that flowed half way down the dress and a gold head piece with a white flower on it. The outfit also came with a pair of gold, knee high strap up sandals, with 5" heels and a white with gold trim eye mask. Hermione put the costume and shoes on first. As she put the head piece on she felt her hair start to move on its own twisting into soft bouncy curls. She applied a little bit of lip gloss and lined her eyes lightly before slipping her mask on. The moment she did she felt a pull and suddenly found herself in front of the Great Hall. She walked into the Great Hall which was already pretty full. The air was filled with the sounds, of talking, laughter, and music. Hermione looked around at all the students decked out in their different costumes, trying to see if she could guess who was who. She decided to try the punch and walked over towards the refreshment tables, getting many stares from both the guys and the girls as she passed. She grabbed a drink and took a sip turning to look out over the crowd, and letting her mind drift. Remember your decision Hermione. Let go of everything that happened. Just for tonight. For tonight, just try to have fun. Try to find the old Hermione. You know shes in there.
"Can I have your attention please?" Hermione looked over to the where the professor's table would usually be, but instead was occupied by the stage. There stood the headmaster, ready to welcome everyone. "I know you all want to get on with the festivities, so I will make this short. I want to welcome you all the the Halloween Ball, and I would like your help in thanking our Head Boy and Girl and the prefects for there hard work in bringing you this evening." He started to applaud and was joined by everyone in the room. "Now with that said, on with the dance." The band started playing and students ran to the dance floor to start dancing.
"Mione!" Hermione looked up and saw a group of people walking towards her. She took them all in trying to figure out who was who. There were two couples who were dressed as a noble knight and Strawberry Shortcake and Robin Hood and a milk maid. She could tell as they got closer that the knight and Strawberry Shortcake were Harry and Ginny, and that the other two were Ron and Lavender. You would think Ron would have changed his hair color for the night but lets face it he wasn't that bright.
"You look amazing! I almost didn't recognize you." Ginny said smiling brightly. Hermione smiled at her.
"Well that is the point after all. Although, I must say that some people are easy to spot."
"I know. Like Luna and Cho over there." Lavender said pointing across the room towards the two Ravenclaws. Hermione looked over and spotted Luna who was dressed as Alice in Wonderland, and Cho who was a geisha. They were standing with what looked like Seamus, who was an anime, and Dean who was a musketeer.
"Then of course you have the group of Slytherins over there." Harry said nodding towards a corner where a group stood. "You can tell its them by there need to try to look superior to everyone else." They all laughed at his words even though they all knew it to be true. They all started talking back and forth trying to guess who was who. Hermione to this opportunity to glance back over at the Slytherins, wondering if any of them were Draco. She wasn't close enough to see who the actual people were but she did recognize the costumes. There was a vampire, what looked like Captain Jack Sparrow, Medusa, and Maleficent.
"Sickle for your thoughts." She looked over at Harry whose green eyes were glazed with worry. Hermione sighed and then smiled.
"Just thinking. You know thats one of my favorite past times." Harry nodded before turning back to Ginny. Hermione took another sip of her punch and sighed. She was going to have a good time, no matter what.
The night was going great. Everyone was having a great time and it seemed as if the ball was a hit. All of the younger years had been escorted back to their dorms leaving just the sixth and seventh years still partying. Draco had spent a good portion of the evening with his fellow Slytherins, but he mostly kept to himself watching a certain gorgeous creature across the room. At first he didn't know who the beauty was, until he saw her talking to Potter and his friends. He still wasn't positive it was her until he noticed that she seemed to flinch away and turn down everyone who asked her to dance. After seeing that he knew right away that it was her. Now he stood in a corner, hidden from her view, just keeping an eye on her.
"Quite beautiful, that one there. Do you know who she is?" Draco looked up to see vampire Nott leering at her.
"Don't you have a date. Maleficent over there." Draco sneered nodding towards Pansy. Nott just looked at him and laughed.
"Been there, done that. She was a last resort. A safe date so to speak." He turned and looked back towards Hermione who was talking to what looked like Loony Lovegood. "But that one right there... well lets just say I wouldn't mind having those legs wrapped around my waist tonight." Draco felt as though a fuse had been lit within him. He turned towards Nott, his eyes narrowing.
"You will not touch her, do you hear me. In fact you will go nowhere near her, understand!" Nott turned to him, and smirked.
"Whats wrong Draco? Taken a fancy to her yourself. Afraid of a little competition." Draco let out an evil little laugh and took a step forward, towering over the boy, causing a hint of fear to enter his eyes.
"Competition? You will never be my competition Nott. I would think you would know this by now. If you know whats good for you, you will stay the fuck away from her, understand." Draco hadn't realized that his voice had risen and the few people around them were now watching. Nott opened his mouth to say something but was stopped by the arrival of Captain Jack Sparrow, aka Blaise.
"Gentlemen. Do we have a problem?" He asked looking at them both. Draco took a step back from Nott and looked at his best friend.
"No problems. I was just informing dear Theodore here that it would be in his best interests to stay away from certain people. I think we have an understanding. Don't we?" He looked over at Nott who nodded at him before heading back over to Pansy and Daphne, who was dressed up as Medusa. He turned back towards Hermione but found that she had disappeared into the crowd.
"Whats going on with you mate?" Blaise asked watching his friend closely.
"Nothing. I'm fine." He said still searching the crowd for her.
"She is over speaking to McGonagall." Draco looked at him sharply trying to play it off as if he had no idea what he was talking about. "Don't try it Draco. I know you've been watching Venus over there all night. My question is when did you start feeling things other then hatred for our lovely Head Girl?" Draco just gawked at him. "Don't look at me like that Draco. You know I know you better then anyone, just as you do with me. There is an obvious change between you and Granger, at least I can see it." Draco let out the breath that he didn't realize he had been holding.
"I don't know what to tell you Blaise. Hermione and I have become friends, kind of. She is going through some things and for some reason finds it easy to talk to me. Not really sure why though." Blaise nodded.
"Listen. I know that something happened to her. I don't know what but it definitely changed her. She is definitely not the same Granger we've all come to know. I also know that you have changed and if you are having some sort of feelings towards Granger then you need to figure out what they are before you go any further in any type of relationship with her." He patted him on the shoulder and walked off leaving a thoughtful Draco behind.
Hermione spent her evening talking to friends, turning down dance requests, and people watching. She had just finished talking to Professor McGonagall when she saw him approach. She had noticed him earlier that evening, and hadn't been able to stop glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. She couldn't really see his face due to the helmet of his spartan warrior costume, but she could see his tan, very chiseled bare chest. She dropped her eyes to the floor not wanting him to catch her looking at him. She watched as his sandal clad feet stopped in front of her and he held out his hand.
"Care to dance, Hermione?" She looked up quickly and found herself staring into the steel grey eyes of the Head Boy. She didn't say anything but placed her hand in his and let him lead her out to join the other couples on the dance floor. He pulled her close to him, her head resting on his bare chest, and for the first time in weeks Hermione realized that she felt normal, comfortable and that Draco made her feel this way. As the song ended Hermione stepped back and looked up at him staring down at her. As she looked into her eyes she was hit with another startling revelation.
Oh Merlin! I'm falling for Draco Malfoy
Soooo what did you think. Please do not be afraid to review, no matter what you might have to say, I would love to hear/read it...lol!