Chapter 6 – Shopping and sleepovers.
The next morning, Hermione awoke in a strange, very large bed. She looked around the room and didn't recognise it as her own, but as the events of the previous day came flooding back to her, she recalled everything. Surprisingly it didn't faze her or scare her one bit. She felt happy, completely content and was actually feeling slightly adventurous.
She rolled over to look at the magical clock that was on her bedside table it read nine o'clock. Perfect. She had just enough time to dress and get ready for her day of shopping. If she hurried, she would even have time to talk to a certain Draco Lucius Malfoy before breakfast. She picked up her mobile phone and sent Draco a text message telling him to come to her room in fifteen minutes. She then ran into her adjoining bathroom to ready herself for the day ahead.
Exactly fifteen minutes later, Draco stood knocking on Hermione's door waiting for her to answer.
"Come in!" She shouted from her bathroom. "I'll be out in a minute, I just need to finish getting dressed."
Draco sat on the end of Hermione's four-poster bed waiting for her to emerge from her bathroom. She walked out a few minutes later dressed in denim shorts a black silky vest top with a green lace trim and matching black wedges. She wasn't sure what had gotten into her lately but she had taken a liking towards the colour green. Perhaps it had something to do with her Slytherin soul mate.
Draco gazed at her fixedly. He was dazzled by Hermione.
"Morning, Draco."
"Morning, Mia. You wanted to speak to me?"
"Erm, yeah. I can't help but think that I might have been slightly harsh with you last night at the restaurant and I just wanted to say that I did mean what I said... but -"
Draco looked up at Hermione with hope in his eyes.
"-would you be my date for the ball this weekend? God knows that the birthday girl can't go alone and be harassed by all the single purebloods that are desperate to get a look in with the long lost Zabini twin." Hermione smirked up at Draco; a smirk that could challenge his own.
"Of course, I'll protect you from all the desperate bachelors out there."
"My knight in shining armour!" Hermione said over dramatically while laughing.
Draco bowed down to Hermione making her fall on the floor laughing. She was silenced by Draco's lips on hers. Hermione started to kiss him back but realised the promise she had made to herself yesterday and pulled away.
"Draco, I want this, I do. I just think we need to get to know each other a bit better. Everything that we knew about each other was a lie, well, for me anyway. Why don't you show me around the Manor and then maybe you and Blaise can come shopping with us girls later. You can help me find Blaise a present," Said a rather flustered Hermione.
"Yes, alright. And I'm sorry I shouldn't have pushed you. I mean you can stand up to Harry and Ron so I don't see why I should be any different." Draco said, slightly defeated.
"If that's your way of apologising, then I accept. I hope it didn't wound that famous Malfoy pride too much." Hermione said with a smirk. "Let's get going then. We've only got half an hour until breakfast and there is a lot of this mansion I've yet to see."
Two hours later, Hermione, Kira, Blaise, Draco, Isobel, Sofia, Narcissa and Athena stood in the entrance to Diagon Alley.
"Right, you all have one hour to split up and go shopping. We will all meet at Moon for lunch, then Narcissa and I will take the girls to get their dresses for the ball. We are going into the boutiques at the north end of the Alley. If you need us we have our mobiles."
That said Athena and Narcissa strode away leaving the six teenagers behind. Isobel and Sofia skipped off excitedly followed by Blaise and Kira.
"Come on, Draco, you can help me."
"Help you do what?"
"Look for a present for Blaise. What do you get your twin brother for his seventeenth birthday when you've only just met and when you don't really know him well at all? Furthermore, he's going to be of age so the gift must be something special!"
"Well, I can't tell you what to buy for Blaise but I can give you some ideas. There are a few things he might need or you could always get him the essential gift for a wizard turning of age… a watch."
"No, I don't want to get him a watch. That's too conventional. Besides, I think mum and dad will get him a watch. What else?"
"How about something for his broom? He's forever saying that he doesn't take care of it well enough. Or some more books for his library? He's always looking to expand it."
"I want something different, something that not just anyone can buy for him. I want something special, something that shows him how much I care and that I've actually thought about his present."
Hermione and Draco walked in silence for a few minutes, both struggling to think of the perfect gift for Blaise.
"What are you getting him, then?" Hermione asked trying to get a better idea of what her brother liked.
"Authentic robes and a limited edition commemorative book from his favourite quidditch team, Italy."
"That sounds nice," Hermione said distractedly as she gazed into the shop windows as they walked. Suddenly a thought occurred to her. "Draco, does Blaise ever wear jewellery?"
"Yes, why?"
"Follow me, I've got an idea. Oh wait, I haven't any money and my mum and dad haven't given me my Gringott's key yet."
"Oh, I forgot.!" Draco began rummaging through the pockets of his robes searching for something.
"Forgot what?" Hermione asked slightly puzzled.
"Found it!" Draco pulled out what looked like a credit card and handed it over to Hermione.
"What is this?"
"It's a Wizarding Card; it is like a muggle credit card. Your parents set up a Gringott's account for you so all you have to do is hand this over at the cash register and they'll ask to check your wand for identification."
"That's a lot easier than having to go down in the tunnels of Gringott's bank. I hate those little carts!"
"So, what is this great idea you have for Blaise's birthday present, then?"
"Follow me and I'll show you."
Hermione took a hold of Draco's hand and pulled him along one of the side streets that connected to the Alley.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Just some place that I found a couple of summers ago on one of the back streets."
They came to stop outside a small jewellery boutique.
"This is your big idea? A jewellery shop on the back streets of Diagon Alley?"
"Yes, it is so don't knock it till you try it, come on."
They walked through the door and up to one of the jewellery counters.
"What are you looking for?"
"I don't really know. I just thought that if I came and had a look around I would find something."
Hermione moved around the counters looking at all the different and unique pieces on display. She spotted an emerald encrusted necklace with matching earrings and bracelet. Draco saw her staring at the jewellery set and once she had walked away from the case, Draco asked one of the sales witches to put it away and that he would be back to collect it in a couple of hours.
"Can I help you, Miss?" Asked one of the sales witches behind the counter.
Hermione looked up to see a small women that looked vaguely like Rita Skeeter except she had brown hair not Rita's trademark blonde.
"Yes, please. I'm looking for a present for my brother. He's turning seventeen so it must be special."
"Find anything yet?" Draco asked, approaching Hermione's right.
"No, not yet but the sales witch was just about to help me."
"Sorry to be rude but aren't you Draco Malfoy?" Draco gave a slight nod towards another slightly younger sales witch. "So, that makes you Hermione Zabini which would mean that the brother you are shopping for is Blaise Zabini. Can I just say that your brother is so hot?"She said while turning to face Hermione again.
"Yes, well, I'm sure Blaise will be pleased to hear that and I'm sure his girlfriend will be ecstatic to hear that Blaise has so many fans."
The young sales witch turned and walked away with a slightly dejected look on her face, not too pleased about Hermione's last comment.
"I'm so sorry about that but Hannah has a mind of her own when it comes to gossiping." Apologized the sales witch.
"Remind you of anyone else?" Draco whispered into Hermione's ear.
"Anyway, where were we?" Hermione started trying miserably to suppress a laugh. "Oh yes, as Hannah just pointed out the present is for my twin, Blaise. I need something that's going to mean something to both of us."
"Have you thought about what piece of jewellery you would want him to have?"
"I was thinking a chunky bracelet with some kind of plate on it so that I can have it engraved. What do you think, Draco?"
"I think that that is a perfect idea, Mia, but what do you want it to say?"
"I wanted it to have his and Kira's names on it. I want it to be like my locket with the family crest and the two snakes around the 'Z'.
"Why two snakes? You don't know what house Kira is going to be in yet."
"I don't know. I've just got this feeling that it's meant to have the two snakes on it and that Kira's name is meant to be on it as well. Maybe it's my powers? Aunt Alyssa said this might happen."
"If you're sure, all you need to do is find the bracelet."
"I've already seen the perfect one. Here."
Hermione pointed to a platinum bracelet with a matching plate on it. Simple yet elegant. Blaise would love it.
The sales witch pulled out the one-of-a-kind bracelet for Hermione to get a closer look and, when she was sure it was the one, the sales witch took out her wand and engraved the names along with the crest and two snakes onto the plate.
Draco had them put a charm on the plate so that if the writing needed to be changed at any point then Blaise would be able to do it easily himself. Hermione argued that the charm wasn't necessary but in the end gave in so that Draco would stop moaning.
Forty-five minutes after walking into the store, Hermione and Draco made their way back towards the main alley and to the restaurant where they were to meet everyone for lunch.
Once they had eaten, they split up again, the boys going off to collect the present that Draco had seen for Hermione and the girls, along with Narcissa and Athena, went in search of the perfect dresses for the party.
At three o'clock the family met at the entrance to Diagon Alley ready to floo back to Zabini Manor. Once they returned, Hermione ran to her room to hide her dress, determined on not letting anyone seeing it before the party. She had not even allowed the girls to see it at the shop.
Once she had put everything away she decided to change into something more comfortable for when Harry, Ron and Ginny's visit.
She picked up a book from one of her many shelves, fully intending on reading some before her friends turned up, but first she needed to speak to her parents.
She found them lounging on the ground floor. They were speaking in hushed tones and as soon as they saw Hermione approaching, they quickly ended the conversation.
"Princess, how has your day been?" Paolo asked standing up from the sofa and giving his daughter a hug.
"It was fine. Draco helped me find Blaise's birthday present. Hopefully, he'll like it."
"Speaking of Draco, I hope he's treating you well," Paolo asked while taking his seat again next to his wife.
Hermione took a seat on the chez lounge opposite.
"Daddy, we're not even serious yet. We're just taking things slowly and getting to know each other."
"If you say so, Princess. Just as long as he's treating you right, then he's okay by me."
"Well, he is. And I should let you know that he is going to be my date for the party so please don't set me up with someone I don't know. Please. Anyway, I didn't come down to speak to you about my love life. I came to ask you something."
"What is it, Mia?" asked Athena.
"I was wondering if I could have a few people to sleep over tomorrow night. It would only be Ginny, Harry and Ron, and the boys would sleep in a different room, of course. I mean I've got plenty on my wing, but if you say no I completely understand." Hermione asked nervously, not looking up the whole time.
"Oh! I think that's a wonderful idea. It gives you all time to get caught up on what's been happening. Your brother, Draco, and Kira could all spend the night in your room as well. The perfect opportunity to give you all a chance to get to know each other better."
Hermione jumped off the lounge and hugged both her parents. "Thank you so much!"
"You're welcome, Princess, but let me make myself clear: I want no funny business. You may nearly be of age but you are still my daughter."
"Of course, daddy, don't worry."
"And remember that you and your brother have to get your licences and go for your apparition test tomorrow morning at the Ministry. Why don't you invite them around about two o'clock so you can all go in the pool or watch some muggle movies in the theatre on the south wing."
"That sounds good. They will be here in about fifteen minutes so I'll go tell Blaise and Draco. Can you ask Minnie, the house elf, to call me when they get here, please."
Before either of her parents could answer, she had shut the door and was running up the stairs in search of her brother and Draco.
Harry, Ron and Ginny turned up at exactly four o'clock that evening. Hermione lead then to the lounge and proceeded to tell them everything that had happened to her in the past two days. They took everything considerably well, although she didn't tell them about how close she and Draco had gotten. But by the look on Ginny's face she had already figured out that there was something between the two of them.
Harry, Ron and Ginny stayed for dinner that night, and readily agreed to the sleepover the next night even if Draco and Blaise were going to be there. They all agreed that it was time to put their differences behind them.
That night, Hermione went up to her room to have a bath and went to bed feeling content and happy.
She was awoken the next morning by banging on her bedroom door and the sound of her brother shouting her name loudly from the hallway.
"Mia! Wake up! Mia, come on! We've got to get to the Ministry!"
Hermione groaned and rolled over, pulling the duvet over her head.
'Mia, I know you're awake. I can feel you.'
"Leave me alone, Blaise! I'm sleeping!"
"No, you're not! Come on, we've got to go get our licences and our tests are booked for eleven."
Blaise walked through the door and up to Hermione's bed, pulling the duvet roughly off of her.
"Ahh! Blaise, give me back my duvet!"
"You know, Aunt Alyssa and Uncle Lucian told me that you weren't really a morning person but you've got to get up! It's ten o'clock and we've got to be at the ministry in an hour."
Blaise turned and headed out of the door but paused before closing the door.
"Oh, and mum said that if you want breakfast then you should be down in the kitchen by half past or you will have to beg Minnie to make you something separate."
Hermione crawled out of bed and into her bathroom. She washed, did her makeup and hair and dressed lazily. She applied a bit more lip-gloss before giving herself the once over in the mirror.
Picking up her wand and mobile phone, she dropped them into her bag and walked out of her room and down to the kitchen. By eleven o'clock, Hermione, Blaise, Paolo and Alyssa were sitting in the testing reception of the Ministry waiting to be called to the exam room.
"Miss Hermione Alysa Zabini. Mr Blaise Orion Zabini. Room six," Announced a stout, middle-aged woman.
Hermione and Blaise walked towards the door with the large number six on it.
"Ready to do this, sis?"
"As ready as I'll ever be."
Hermione pushed open the door and she and Blaise walked in to take their tests.
Hermione walked out of the door a half hour later and closed it behind her.
"Princess, how did you do?"
"I Passed! I did it! As of midnight tonight I can apparate all over the world whenever I like!"
"What about your brother?"
"I don't know. We sat down to take the tests in our booths and after I did my apparation test, I didn't see where Blaise went."
Hermione sat down next to her dad and, less than five minutes later, Blaise stepped out of the door with a smug look on his face.
"Yes, I know I am amazing. I knew I'd do it."
"Oh, shut up, Blaise. You remind me of Draco when I used to hate him."
"I'm telling Draco!" Teased Blaise while running towards the fireplace.
"Urgh…Blaise you can be such an idiot at times!" Hermione started running after him, determined to stop him from ruining her relationship with her potential boyfriend.
Athena and Paolo arrived back at the manor to see the twins chasing each other around the dining room, while a slightly confused looking Draco sat atop the table.
"Mia!"
"What?" Hermione came to stop dead in front Draco. Blaise came up behind Mia and tackled her to the floor tickling her.
"Argh! Blaise… let me go now!"
"Blaise, let your sister up."
"Okay, dad." Blaise stopped tickling his sister and helped her up off of the floor.
"What were you two arguing about anyway?"
"Oh erm... nothing! Come on, let's go get some dinner and then you can help me get my room ready for tonight."
Hermione grabbed a hold of Draco's hand and dragged him off in the direction of the kitchen, hoping that Minnie would make her something to eat.
By two o'clock, Draco and Hermione were in her room, relaxing on her bed. They had brought in four extra double beds and plenty of beanbags for that night.
"So, when do you plan on telling the other two-thirds of the golden trio that you are a little more than friendly with me?"
"I was going to tell them tonight... and how come you didn't mention anything about me telling Ginny?"
"I guessed you already told her or she's figured it out herself. I know what you girls are like. You tell each other everything."
"I'll have you know Draco Malfoy that I haven't told a soul outside the family about us, but you're probably right about Ginny. I think she figured it out yesterday when she was here. "
Hermione rolled over so her head was resting on Draco's chest. They laid in silence for a few minutes until Blaise came through the door, hand-in-hand with Kira followed by Ginny, Harry, Ron, Isobel and Sofia.
"Let's get the party started!" Called Kira as she ran across the room and jumped on to the bed where Hermione and Draco were.
"Hermione."
"Mia."
"Whatever…why are you laying on a bed with Malfoy, I mean Draco?" Hermione sat up to look at the face of her very confused best friend.
"Well, erm... Ron, you see Draco and I are kind of seeing each other now."
"Oh right. Okay."
"This doesn't bother you does it?"
"I'm keeping an open mind. Nothing is going to bother me. We can handle this, can't we, Harry?"
"Don't bring me into it. I think it's a good idea that Hermione has finally found someone. I mean I've got Ginny, you've got… had, have, whatever Lavender."
"Actually, we broke up but I'm okay with it she was starting to suffocate me a little."
At that they all burst out laughing.
"I don't know what you mean Ron," Hermione said sarcastically between laughs.
"Yeah, she was a little possessive, wasn't she?"
"A little, mate? I think she went past possessive and straight to stalker."
"I have to agree with Harry on that one, Ron. Even though we never really knew each other at school, I felt really sorry for you. I mean, I heard some of the rumours that went around about Lavender Brown and they even scared me," Admitted a slightly sympathetic Draco.
"Okay, that's enough talking about the past; let's get on with the present. Blaise and I have got a birthday to start celebrating and we've just passed our apparition tests this morning. I personally don't want to wait for tomorrow to start celebrating so who wants to go swimming?"
Half an hour later the nine teenagers were all seated around the pool, talking about everything and anything that they could think of. The boys talked about Quidditch and flying while the girls spoke about fashion, boys, and what they would be wearing for the party the following evening; except for Hermione. No matter how hard they tried, Hermione stayed tight lipped on what she was wearing. They played water volleyball, girls versus boys; the girls winning because Kira and Hermione were able to distract Draco and Blaise long enough for the other girls to win the game.
Later that night they watched a film on the big screen television in Hermione's room which Draco had enlarged. Hermione called for Minnie to bring them all snacks and drinks. They watched movies for a few hours until they began to get bored. At least, the boys did... they could only handle so many chick flicks.
"What do you want to do now?" Hermione asked as she turned off the television.
"How about a game?"
"What kind of game?"
They all sat thinking for a while and then Ginny spoke up.
"Truth or Dare!"
"Okay but rules first. If you don't answer your truth or do the dare, you have to have a shot of fire whiskey.
"And where exactly do you plan on getting a bottle of fire whiskey?" asked Draco.
As Draco asked Hermione reached under her bed and pulled out two bottles of fire whiskey, shocking everyone around her.
"What? You never know when it could come in handy and the second bottle is just in case. I'll go first; Draco, truth or dare?"
"Hermione, I'm not playing truth or dare."
"Oh, don't be boring. I thought you were a Slytherin. You should stand up to the challenge."
"Fine, Truth."
They played the game late into the night, finally ending when they were all too drunk to stay awake or simply sit up straight.
Harry and Ginny crawled over to one of the beds, they nearly didn't make it there before they fell asleep. Isobel and Sofia who were slightly less drunk than the rest, managed to pull the covers over themselves before falling asleep. Ron had already passed out on one of the beds and was now snoring like a baby. Blaise, Kira, Hermione and Draco were the last to fall asleep only because Draco decided to kick Kira out of hers and Hermione's bed so that he could cuddle up to Hermione. He wanted to be the first to hug her on her birthday, when they awoke.
Minnie being the ever-so-sensible house elf she was, brought them all a hangover cure potion and water to take when they awoke in the morning. They would need it.