Disclaimer: I do not own anything Harry Potter themed or any idea created by J.K. Rowling. I simply own Giselle and the plot of this story.
Author's Note: Thank you so much to those of you who have already favorited and followed my story! You have no clue how much it means to me, how much it excites me, and how much it fuels my writing. So please, review and let me know how it's going! Also, thank you to the reviewer who commented on my french skills (or lack thereof). I can't help but use a translator as I am not a fluent French speaker and have never taken French classes. But your input is helpful and I appreciate it! Now on with the story:)
"LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, let me introduce to you, our star, our beauty on Legs… Miss Jane Granger!"
As loud tango music began, Draco instantly felt himself become more alert, and as he peered to his side, he noticed Katalina's change in demeanour, and felt her arm snake around his protectively. He sighed.. Women…
Jane, hmm must be her middle name. As he pondered why she would go by her middle name instead of her first, he saw Hermione's long, dainty figure emerge from behind the velvet curtain. And boy was she a sight.. Her long dark brown curls loosely pinned up to her head, and her dress now to her knees, red, and made of the most delicate lace.
Hermione crossed the floor with effortless grace, and the room burst into applause. Feeling a smile develop on his face, Draco and Katalina both clapped politely. Her lips and cheeks now had a distinct pink tinge to them that contrasted her alabaster skin in a way that made her honey eyes that much more piercing.
Her partner - a very familiar man with sandy blonde curls, and a shirt that was unbuttoned all the way down his chest- made his way over to Hermione and grabbed her roughly by the waist. Draco felt himself take a sharp intake of breath, but soon released it cooly when he remembered that someone could be watching him. After the war (and especially with his family's role in the war) it was a common thing to be watched closely.
The couple definitely knew how to play the part well, Draco thought as he felt heat course through his body from nearly watching them. A mix of lust, longing, and envy overwhelmed Draco while he watched the man keep close hold on Hermione's body. It confused him, to say the least.
"Roxanne, you don't have to put on that red light. Walk the streets for money, you don't care if it's wrong, or if it is right."
The floor was covered in passion, jealousy, betrayal, and suspicion as the couple intricately twirled around the room. Hermione's leg lifted up to the man's shoulder, and he dipped her to the floor, his hand making it's way down her leg, his lips trailing behind her ear, and down her neck.
"Roxanne, you don't have to wear that dress tonight, Roxanne… you don't have to sell your body to the night."
Draco watched with interest at how amazing the two of them moved together. He felt the fingers of his left hand clench as they danced, and Draco once again was brought back to the past. A simpler time, before Hermione had cut him off from her.
*flashback*
[ Draco watched as Viktor Krum twirled Hermione around the dance floor of the Yule Ball. She sure was a sight, even back then. Her massive brown curls tentatively pinned to her head, clad in a flowy dress as pink as her lips. He watched from the corner (more like sulked) as she laughed and smiled at Krum as if they were the only two in the room. Soon enough, the song ended and Krum walked away to fetch them a drink, Draco presumed. He then made his move. Gliding across the floor quicker and quieter than he had for anyone in his life, he reached Hermione as she stood on the end of the dance floor with her arms crossed waiting for Krum. Coming up from behind her, he decided he wanted at least one dance with her tonight. "Miss Granger, you look lovely tonight." His voice startled her, and as she whirled around, her brown eyes melted from a frightened chocolate to a soft caramel. Hermione's eyes were always something Draco admired. There was always so much emotion in them. She truly was an open book. A slow smile appeared on her lips, as she took in his attire as well. "You don't look too bad yourself, Draco." Draco felt himself smile, as he extended his hand towards her, and she eyed it cautiously, her eyes flickering back to Viktor who was now socializing with a couple of his Russian classmates. " I know you have a date. I am not trying to steal you away Hermione. I would just like one dance. As friends, that is." His voice assured her, and when she looked back up into his cool pools of silver, her resolve to stay put melted and she gently laid her warm hand in his. ]
As a different man began to sing, Draco was yet again pulled out of his flashback, into reality.
"His eyes upon your face… His hand upon your hand.. His lips caress your skin… It's more than I can stand. Feelings I can't fight… you're free to leave me, but just don't deceive me, and please believe me when I say I love you…"
Watching Hermione willingly put her body into the hands of this mystery man bothered Draco, and he had no clue why. Which only bothered him more. Her hand around his neck, his hands guarding and controlling every move she took.
Across, on the other side of the room was the band, playing guitars, a variety of violins, and a on a stand, dead straight in the middle, was Giselle with a tambourine. The musicians all seemed to be playing by heart, all while watching Giselle with adored smiles on their faces. While she shook the small instrument in her tiny fingers, she sang along to the lyrics and Draco felt himself yet again impressed by the little girl. Draco's eyes slowly shifted back to the girl's mother and he felt the urge to cover the girl's eyes from the passion her mother was exhibiting on the dance floor. The male dancer dipped Hermione and she closed her eyes, and threw her head back in pleasure as one last high pitched note from the singers filled the room.
The room erupted in applause for the couple, and they came up from their sensual pose, the man still very much holding onto Hermione's waist as they bowed. The man's eyes stayed on Hermione the entire time, and Draco suddenly felt very threatened. She - much to Draco's pleasure- wasn't paying as much attention to him as she did to the crowd. Beaming a vibrant smile, she turned in the direction Draco was seated in and Draco felt she was smiling right at him. Though he doubted she was.
Just then, the announcer's voice ran out loud and clear. Draco having been raised around his mother, who spoke French fluently was able to translate what he was saying to Katalina.
"Encore une fois, cela a été notre précieusement Jane Granger , et Cormac McLaggen . Je vous souhaite à tous apprécié votre nuit ici au Tour de France. Il était étonnant que vous ayez tous ici , s'il vous plaît revenir bientôt . La semaine prochaine est notre maison ouverte , la danse appel d'offres . Vous pourriez avoir la chance de danser avec nos merveilleux artistes ici . Bonsoir tout le monde, nous vous revoir bientôt . Au revoir!"
(Again, that was our treasured Jane Granger, and Cormac McLaggen. I hope you all enjoyed your night here at Tour De France. It was amazing having you all here, please come again soon. Next week is our open house, dance bidding. You could get the chance to dance with our wonderful artists here. Goodnight everyone, we shall see you all again soon. Goodbye!)
Cormac McLaggen! That's why the bloke seemed so familiar, he only went to school with them for years. Questions plagued Draco's mind. What happened to Weasley and Potter? Draco was sure Hermione would end up marrying the Weasel...Was McLaggen Giselle's father? Blonde hair.. sure it wasn't as bright blonde but from what he remembers of his time in school it could be a genetic that didn't pass on as strong..hmm..
Taking Katalina's hand in his, Draco led her around the crowd that was hurriedly making their way to all of the couples coming out. Instead of going to congratulate Hermione - which was what Draco longed to do, but realized it would hurt too much to do so- he started for the fancy revolving door. Just as he and Katalina reached it, he was stopped by that familiar feeling of someone pulling on his pants. He looked down and saw a little mass of blonde curls. Letting go of Katalina's arm, he gently knelt down to Giselle who was now smiling.
"Monsieur Malfoy, you're not going to stay for the real party?" She lifted her hand and took Draco's crested necklace from under his shirt to lay on top of his shirt. Draco laughed and shook his head at the girl. She continued to play with his necklace, slowly stroking the green emeralds as though they were familiar to her.
"I'm sorry Giselle, not tonight. I must get Katalina home and I'm afraid I have a long day of work. Plus, I don't think your mum would like that very much. Another time maybe." He began to stand up when he felt the girl doing something to his tuxedo's pocket. Looking down, he saw her tiny fingers placing the yellow daisy from earlier in his pocket. A flower the same color as her dress, and hair.
"Hello there Giselle, I'm Katalina," the taller blonde held out her hand to the little one. Draco could feel the dislike of Katalina oozing off of Giselle, but because she was her mother's daughter, she took it and became all smiles.
Katalina was about to say something else to Giselle when Draco heard someone clear their throat. All three of them looked up to see Hermione, wearing her long black velvet dress again, a white winter cloak draped over her shoulders, down to her ankles. As Hermione's eyes took in the sight of her daughter with Draco, mist covered her eyes. But just as quickly as the mist had appeared, Hermione's eyes became hard and she called the girl to her in Italian and began putting on the little girl's own pink winter cloak.
It hurt Hermione to see Giselle with Draco, though she would never admit it, as it brought up many painful, shameful memories from a horrible time during the war.
It was snowing outside, and she wanted to make sure her daughter and her were warm enough for the carriage. As she was fastening the cloak around Giselle's shoulders, she heard something that surprised her.
"You did an… amazing job out there 'Mione," Draco looked at her, and he noticed that she flinched when he used her nickname. Keeping her head down, Hermione pretended as though she was focusing really hard on fastening Giselle's cloak, when in reality she was trying to stop the tears that were forming in her eyes. She hadn't heard him call her that since before the war. Before everything changed...
*What's wrong with this woman? I just complimented her, and she acts like I insulted her…* he thought as he watched Hermione's feeble attempts to pretend he wasn't standing right there.
With a curt nod directed at Draco, she took Giselle in her arms and handed her over to a nice looking older lady. She murmured something to the woman that caused the woman to shoot Draco a warning look. Then she nodded and quickly took the girl outside to their carriage, followed closely behind by Hermione's dance partner.
As he looked over Hermione's head, Giselle's sleepy face smiled at him, waving slightly.
Draco smiled slightly at the girl he had already grown to adore. As his eyes focused closer to him again, he was surprised by Hermione who was standing right in front of him, looking down at something in her hands. Her head suddenly snapped up to him.
Knowing Katalina didn't speak French, she spoke to him clearly and quietly, with a soft look on her face so that Katalina would think she was saying something nice, not threatening him.
"Il était un geste audacieux de la vôtre pour venir ici Malfoy . Pour avertissement juste , je vais vous dire maintenant de rester loin de nous, et de garder cette famille sale de la vôtre loin ainsi."
(It was a bold move of yours to come here Malfoy. For fair warning, I'll tell you now to stay away from us, and to keep that filthy family of yours away as well.)
Recoiling slightly, Draco felt as if she had just kicked him in the stomach. Taking Draco's hand in hers, she quickly slipped something cold into it, and whispered to him with as much hatred a voice could manage in a whisper, "Soyez sûr de revenir à l'homme ce que vous appelez père. Je suis sûr que le bâtard est manquant il."
(Be sure to return this to the man you call father. I'm sure the bastard is missing it.)
Draco's face froze at the mention of his father, and he caught Hermione's disdainful eyes. His stomach flipped when he saw the anger radiating out of Hermione's eyes, as she frowned at him. But before he could take her hand again, question her, or even get a word out, she turned slowly to Katalina.
"It was a pleasure Katalina, best wishes to you and Malfoy." And before anyone could say anymore, she pulled her hood up, looked around her, and exited. Her steps were quick, almost as if something were following her, and she didn't look back until she got in the white, snow covered carriage outside.
Turning from Katalina's view, he looked down for what seemed to be the billionth time this evening, and slowly opened his hand and found his father's ring. He would have laughed and called Hermione out any other time for her almost believable joke if he hadn't seen the name Lucius Abraxas Malfoy engraved on the silver snake that wrapped around the ring. The eyes of the snake were two large emeralds, and out of the snake's mouth stuck small, sharp fangs.
Moments passed by before Draco shook his head to clear his mind and peered behind him, through the glass revolving door. The last thing he saw was a white hooded face turn towards him, and a pair of honey, tear streaked eyes glare at him.
The ring that was in Draco's hand was confirmed to be his father's. The one he claimed to have lost in the midst of the war… Almost six years ago...