Marian and Hermione double checked their outfits one last time. Marian wore a dark purple dress that was tight around her chest and waist and flared out at her hips. It fell to the floor and was made of light fabric so she wouldn't get hot dancing. She had a matching purse and a shawl over her shoulders. She checked her french braid and turned to her friend.
"Stop fiddling with you corset, Hermione," she said, pushing her friend's hands away. She pulled it down to where it was suppose to be.
"Maria," Hermione said. "I don't want to be showing off so much."
"You're not. Don't be so uptight," Marian said. "Show off the goods sometimes. It's good. And, your date will love it."
"You do realize that my date is your brother, right?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah. So?"
"So," Hermione said, gesturing to her outfit. "Don't you think this is a bit...much?"
Marian looked her over. Hermione wore a dark blue strapless corset top dress. The skirt portion had a large slit up her right side that stopped just a few inches at her hip. It showed off her long legs and black heels. Her hair was up in a fashionable bun with a few curls left loose to frame her features. "No," Marian said. "I think you look perfect. Draco won't be able to take his eyes off you."
Hermione stared at her friend with a raised eyebrow. "You're not trying to seriously set me up with your brother, are you?"
"No," Marian said, waving her hand. "I'm just trying to make you look nice...because if Draco doesn't take you, which he'd be a complete fool, and I say that in the most loving way; but, if he doesn't take you for himself, then another man will. You look good enough to eat. Yum."
Hermione laughed as Marian licked her lips. "You are one strange woman, Maria," she said.
"If I wasn't strange, your life would be boring," Marian said.
Hermione smiled. "True."
A knock at the door interrupted the girls. Marian was the first to it and opened it wide. Ron and Draco stood at the door. By their body language, they'd been ignoring each other for a while. They both smiled as they saw her. "You look lovely," Draco said, kissing her cheek. Marian smiled.
Ron just stared. "You're bloody beautiful," he said.
Draco rolled his eyes at the words, but Marian only giggled. "Thank you, Ron," she said. "I feel 'bloody beautiful'. But wait until you see Hermione."
The boys looked up and stared. Hermione stood in the middle of the flat, blushing slightly at the attention. Draco walked forward and took her hand. He bowed and kissed her knuckles. "I'm suppose to take this beautiful woman to a Ball tonight," he said. "Would like to come with me instead, gorgeous lady?" Hermione turned beet red as Marian tried to hide her giggles.
"Come on," Marian said. "I don't want to be late. Oh, I'm so nervous. It's like the prom I never went to."
The witch and wizards looked at her. "What is a prom?" Ron asked.
Marian looped her arm with his and they apparaed out of the flat and to the Ministry. "Well," Marian said, pulling Ron to the lifts. "Prom is a muggle dance that is held near the end of high school's years. It's for Juniors and Seniors. Sort of a send off dance. I never got to go. No one asked me."
Ron smiled. "Well, tonight, you're my date. And we're going to have a good time," he said. He wrapped an arm around her waist and helped her into the lift. Hermione and Draco followed. As they were the only ones in the loft, Ron kept far away from Draco.
No that Draco minded. He was staring at the beauty that was his date. Hermione Granger never looked so go. Not even at the Yule Ball. Then, she'd been a teenage princess. Here, she was a woman queen. Where had she found that dress? It made her look like a new woman. And when her cheeks turned red from embarrassment...too perfect.
The lift doors opened and the sound of Marian's gasp made Draco look away from his date and at the room before them. It was huge, designed like an old fashioned ballroom, with a smooth floor and high ceiling. But it was decorated like a winter wonderland. The tables and chairs framing the dance floor were covered in blue and white, with magic dancing snowflakes as center pieces. There ice covering the windows in designs of snow covered country side.
Draco looked over at his sister and smiled at her amazed expression. She was still getting use to an all magical world, and Pansy was right when she said it was refreshing to be around her. It made the world look bright and new. Speaking of Pansy, she was waving to them from a table.
"Let's go say hi to Pansy, Ron," Marian said, pulling Ron over to the table.
Draco turned to Hermione and smiled. "May I escort the lady to the same table?" he asked.
She giggled and said, "You may." He took her hand and led her over to the table.
"Hermione," Pansy said. "I just knew you would look perfect in that dress."
"You chose her dress?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow.
Pansy smiled and said, "Of course." Draco could hear the unsaid I know what you like at the end.
Marian put her purse and shawl down on a chair. Ron offered his hand and said, "Wanna dance?" just as a fast song began to play.
Marian took his hand and said, "Yeah. Let's." They hurried onto the dance floor and began to dance.
Draco watched them for a while, laughing at Ron's clumsy dance style. "Where did he learn to dance like that?" he said to no one in particular.
Hermione laughed. "Harry and I tried to teach him. But it was useless," she said. "Ron's got two left feet."
Draco turned to her and said, "I don't. May I have this dance?"
She looked up at him from the seat she'd just taken and said, "Oh...no, thank you. I'm quite comfortable here."
Draco could see her cheeks turn red and she started to slouch. Of course, that only gave him a better view. He reached out and took her hand, pulling her with him onto the dance floor just as the song switched to a slower pace. Draco turned and pulled Hermione close to his body. She looked up at him in shock. "What are you doing?" she asked. "I was perfectly happy at the table."
He smiled for the other people that were looking at them. "Do you realize, Hermione, that when you slouch, it gives people a clear view right down to your stomach?" he asked in a low voice. Her face went even redder at the news and she looked at his shoulder. "I thought dancing might straighten your back a bit."
"Thanks...I think," she said.
Draco chuckled. "Any time."
They danced for a few more minutes in silence. "Draco?" Hermione asked.
"Hmm?" he said.
"Why did you agree to bring me?" she asked.
"Besides loving Marian so much, she's the only one that I will do anything for?" Hermione nodded. Draco leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "Because I knew you were going to look beautiful tonight."
Hermione smiled slightly, still not looking at him. They fell silent as the song switched to another slow song. Draco could see Ron trying to dance with Marian properly, but was stepping on her feet. Finally, she just wrapped her arms around his neck and they swayed.
"Draco?" Hermione asked again.
"Hmm?" Draco answered same as before.
"Would you...I mean, if you're not..." Draco looked down and saw Hermione lick her lips. Such sweet looking lips. "I'm trying to say...would you like to go out sometime? I mean, if you're not already taken or...you know."
Draco smiled. "Are you asking me out on a date, Granger?" he said.
She looked up and met his eyes determinedly. "Yes, Malfoy," she said. "I'm asking you out on a date."
"Why?" he asked.
She paused, then licked her lips. His gaze followed that tongue. "I...I want to understand you." she said. "You were such a git in school and then...you changed. I don't know when, but you became kinder somehow. Gentle. And this was before Marian, so you can't use that excuse. She only brought it out for everyone to see."
Draco chuckled. "I'll go out with you, Granger," he said. "If you promise one thing."
"What?" she asked.
"Don't get rid of this dress. You're too sexy in it," he said.
Her mouth fell open and Draco took his shot. He pulled her close and lowered his head, capturing her lips in a searing kiss. She froze for a minute, too shocked to respond. But, as if she'd just screwed her head on straight, she reached up and cupped his cheek, kissing him back. They stopped dancing and just kissed, not caring that people were staring. And they didn't see Marian smile at Ron and say, "Told you." No, they were caught up in their own kiss that made reality fade away.
Slowly, they pulled apart. They looked into each others eyes and Draco chuckled. "What's so funny?" Hermione asked.
Draco reached up and caressed her hair. "You've got snow in your hair," he said.
They both looked up and saw that the ceiling was snowing. They laughed and continued to dance.
AN: Who liked the fluff? Show of hands? I thought so. Isn't it just so cute? Lol. So, review and tell me what you think.
