Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter books, nor ever will. All rights and most of my inspiration to JK Rowling and Warner Brothers.
Consequential Events
Chapter Three: Pride and Prejudice
(Christmas Holidays-just after Christmas. In the Seventh Year-HBP not taken into account)
Hermione
Hermione stood in front of the battered full-length mirror at Grimmuald. Ginny stood behind her admiring her dress.
"Well, I am going to finish my hair in the bathroom. Oh and Harry said we have got half an hour before it starts." Ginny said picking up her brush and wand.
Hermione waited standing perfectly still until the door to their room closed completely. Then suddenly she spun around on the spot watching the long midnight blue evening gown twirl around her feet.
The dress itself was figure hugging and only flared out around her ankles. It had not straps and made her look a lot taller that her 5"4 height. The pale expanse of her neck was draped in a diamond chocker, making her seem regale. It had been her Grandmother's necklace and Jane Granger had given it to Hermione for Christmas.
'A real family heirloom,' Hermione thought wistfully. She had always admired the family china and silver, but as a little girl no matter how careful she was her parents still told her never to touch anything.
Picking up her evening shawl she walked out of their room and down the hall to Harry and Ron's.
"Hey? Guys? Can I come in? You aren't naked or anything?" Hermione said knocking quietly.
Ron opened the door. Hermione took a step back; he was wearing those hideous robes again. "Oh my how, err, handsome you look." She stuttered. Harry burst out laughing in the background.
"Oh, yeah that's right laugh at a man once he is down!" Ron sucked.
"Here let me transfigure them." Hermione said pulling out her wand. Ron relented and sat down as Hermione circled him. Then with a swish and a flick Ron was sitting in a dark green pair of dress robes.
"Merlin! Hermione you are a legend!" Ron said standing up and pulling her into a hug. "And you don't look half bad either!" He added smiling.
"Yeah Mione, you look, err, like a Slytherin." Harry said checking her out.
"What?" Hermione said surprised.
"Well you aren't wearing green, but you look like one of the Blacks, all elegant and well Slytherin." Harry finished.
"I think we can assume that's a compliment." Ron whispered.
Draco
I sat on my bed in the manor. Mum was going mental downstairs getting ready for that M.A.W. ball we have been invited to. Dad meanwhile is yelling at the house-elves making them send messages of apologise to Dumbledore for Dad's absence.
He is sending me in place of him. Typical, if he just went we won't even be under suspicion by the ministry. But Malfoy pride has been the downfall of many of my ancestors and probably my father.
I suppose I should get ready. Mum would have a cow if she knew I was lying half asleep dressing in nothing but my skin and fresh from the shower. For the first time in recent memory I was excited about tonight's festivities. Maybe Dumbledore would believe me if I told him I don't want to be a death eater. Maybe he'll listen to me when I tell him about plans I have overheard from my attic refuge just over Dad's study? Maybe I will have a life after the dark lord.
I sleepily got up and searched half-heartedly though the mess on my bedroom floor for some clean underwear. Ten minutes later I was ready and not a moment to late as Mum called up the stairs that we should be going.
Hermione
We arrived just in time in a smart black coach that Dumbledore sent. When Ron opened the door it was like I was a movie star at the Oscars. The press were either side of the red carpet a red velvet rope fence separating them from us.
We got out Ron helping me down, then Ginny being carried out by Harry. It was only because she couldn't manage the steps in her high heels. The press went wild. Harry and Ginny grinned embarrassedly. They had been going out for a couple of months now, having got together over the autumn term.
Despite what the newspapers claimed, Ron and I never went out. Like I said before I had never kissed, unless you count the peck on the cheek given by Viktor. Bless him, he still writes. No I have a lot of male friends, but that's all they are, friends.
We made our way down the carpet and though the antique looking doors of London Ministry Pavilion. The whole building was imposing and beautiful a lot like a Victorian palace. Smooth Jazz was playing as we entered the beautiful ballroom.
The ceiling was high and the walls had beautiful paintings and statues adorning them. People were everywhere milling about. Famous wizards and witches like the Parkinson family and other families of the English aristocracy.
I turned a boy stood beside me. For a moment I didn't recognise him all dressed up, light blond hair unkempt and ruffled. Then I as I looked into his grey eyes his name came to me, Draco Malfoy.
Draco
She came in and a swear that the lighting become somewhat ethereal. Inhaled as she came to a stop standing next to me. My stomach started twisting into knots as I turned to face her full on.
Big beautiful brown eyes, stunning dress filled with all-round stunning girl. I smiled goofily at her, and then realising I had just embarrassed myself stared down at the floor, hoping she would leave me to crawl under a rock.
But she didn't in fact in her manner completely she turned to face me and said "Nice to see you here Malfoy."
I looked up "Err, nice to see you too Granger." I managed to keep my smiling at bay and gave her a nod of the head instead.
Just then the youngest Weasley boy came up placing a hand on Hermione's shoulder. He whispered something in her ear and she giggled and excused herself going over towards the toilets. I watched her until she was just out of my sight. Then realised Weasel was still there.
"I didn't think this was your sort of thing Malfoy." Weasel said looking thoughtful. I shrugged then turned back to him.
"Maybe I am not as predictable as people say I am." I countered.
Weasel nodded and started to walk off in the direction of the toilets. I started to feel the prickling of jealousy in my stomach and followed.
Hermione
"Hey, err we need you Harry just err, ripped his trousers in a very embarrassing place and so could you fix them?" Ron whispered in Hermione's ear.
Giggling she went to find Harry guessing he would be hiding in the men's toilets. She was right as she approached a hysterical Ginny was keeping a watch outside.
"It's all clear, just Harry inside" She grinned to Hermione.
Walking in Hermione found a very red looking Harry holding the inside leg of his dress robes together. He looked up at Hermione and his face relaxed in relief.
"Thanks Hermione. You really are a great best friend!" Harry said after she mumbled a stitch repairing charm.
"No problem Harry." She grinned as she walked out of the bathroom and came face to face with Draco Malfoy for the second time that night.
"Hello" He mumbled.
"Err, hey don't worry I wasn't using the men's." She said without thinking. She started to walk off but a hand caught her.
"Want to go for a walk?" He asked, Hermione looked at the bathroom door wondering why he had changed his mind and instead to 'using the facilities' wanted to go walking. 'It must be important' She thought and nodded.
Draco
I wanted to tell her everything, reveal to her all the secretes I had heard in fathers study's 'attic room'. Why? It is not like I could trust her to believe me or even like me. I still felt compelled to try, stupid isn't it.
We walked out into the gardens; my mind started wandering thinking about how romantic it was here, and how secluded. We could do anything and Potter and Weasel would have no idea where we were.
"So what was it you wanted to talk to me about?" She asked turn to look at me.
I was momentarily stunned by her beauty, then recovering I said, " I have some rather interesting information on the dark lords movements." She took a sharp intake of breath, her big eyes widening in surprise. "I just thought you should know." I added as an afterthought.
She looked at the gravel path as if it would reveal whether or not I was speaking the truth. She seem to find her answer and looking back up said "Start for the beginning, tell me everything and leave nothing no matter how small out." I nodded and relinquished my secretes.
Hope you like it so far.
Thanks for the continuing support of 0odr8co's'girl0o and also to Marie-Claire1. You two made my day by reviewing.