Disclaimer: Characters are not mine. I'm just playing with them.
A.N. The long-awaited Hermione-Draco interaction is here. However, this chapter was longer than I anticipated, so I would cut it in half. I was torn on how to portray Draco. Fanfiction Draco or Canon Draco? Let's see.
Special thanks to Guest, ThisIsMe79, dutch potterfan, and Guest for the encouragement and pointing out what I needed in my life.
Carry On Hermione Ch. 4
The Ministry Victory Ball started out with the Order of the Phoenix's Remembrance Day of the Fallen. The first participants were Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and many members of the Order of the Phoenix, who spent the day at their friends' graves.
They spent the day either quietly mourning, or they shared precious memories they shared with the dead. A couple of people laughed as they shared memories, while a couple of people cried. After they shared stories, they cleaned up the gravesites. They made sure that the gravestone was clean, the grass was cut, and they left a bouquet of flowers at every grave. It was a cathartic day for everybody.
The next day, the Daily Prophet published a full-page exclusive on the "Golden Trio's" heroism, bravery, and loyalty to their friends complete with a "Where Are They Now" section. The article even had pictures of them. How the Daily Prophet also obtained a photo of them was a mystery to everyone at the Order.
To the public, the article struck a chord. Many families all over Wizarding Europe commemorated the day in one way or another. Some families mourned while many more celebrated. Meanwhile, the Ministry had done absolutely nothing to commemorate the day. Furthermore, the picture of Harry Potter and his friends at the gravesite brought memories of people who were still struggling after the war.
It usually was not a big deal. However, the Ministry of Magic played a role in persecuting mudbloods and helping Death Eaters. The Ministry's lack of response looked like their role during the war under the rug.
The general population was simply pissed off. Never mind that the new Minister of Magic was present at the gravesite along with the "Golden Trio." Never mind that many of those who were in charge during Voldemort's occupation was either in a jail cell or awaiting trial.
Andromeda pointed out that the real reason the public was because there was an overwhelming need to do something. It had been a year since the Battle at Hogwarts, and there were still a lot of things that still needed attention. The orphanages were overflowing, the houses still needed fixing, and there were still businesses that still that have yet to recover from the war. It was less because the Ministry of Magic did nothing; it was more because the Wizarding World needed something to be done.
Minister Kingsley decided to address those issues and called his closest advisors to have a discussion on what to do. It took an entire week, but the Minister and their advisors came up with a two-step solution. The Ministry started with what they could do.
There were still Death Eaters and former Ministry officials that were still awaiting trial, particularly Umbridge. The old hag still had some sway in Wizengamot from her jail cell, and there were many others like her. In response, the Minister decreed that the public, the ones who were most affected by Voldemort's reign, were the ones who would judge the rest of those awaiting trial.
Five different courts were set up to speed up the process without sacrificing quality. The results were that each defendant had a trial twice as long. But overall, the trials concluded within five months after the decree.
The law was controversial for many of those who were awaiting trial. Many of the well-connected and wealthy defendants wanted to bribe their way out of trouble. It was easier to bribe people they already knew. Very few defendants, those who had lighter sentences, were relieved that the trials were finished.
The second thing the Ministry decided to do was to host a Victory Ball every year at affluent and likely pureblood homes. The goal was to raise money for whatever caused needed it for the next year. Last year it was to fix the broken homes and businesses. This year was to raise funds for the orphanage.
It was not Kingsley's idea, but his Senior Undersecretary wanted to make a public display that the Ministry was actually doing something. It was also a way to appease the wealthier pureblood families by giving them a chance to clean up their name in the most glamorous way possible.
As a result, the Ministry's Victory ball was an intentional press photo-op. Members of the press made up almost a quarter of guests. Each of them was free to take pictures with the Wizarding Wolrd's greatest heroes, from war heroes to athletes.
Last year's Victory Ball provided a weeks' worth of material. They described each famous person wore in attendance and who came with whom. They talked about what was on the menu, the décor, and the ambiance.
If the idea were not such a muggle, the Ministry would lay out the red carpet complete with a wall of paparazzi.
This year's Victory ball was at the Nott Mansion, owned by Hermione's classmate Theodore Nott. Nott's father was one of the first few who was tried by Wizengamot. He did not protest his trial even though he had the means to do so. It was probably because he was too old to care how long he would stay in Azkaban. The sentence was as followed, Wizengamot found that he was guilty of all charges, and Nott Sr. was sent to live in jail.
Theodore Nott, on the other hand, did absolutely nothing during the war, but he still received bad press from his father's actions. Hosting this year's Victory Ball all allowed Nott to clean up his name in the public eye.
When Hermione arrived with Harry and Ron at Nott's front garden, she could tell that Nott took a lot of preparation for this year's Victory Ball.
The house was large with well-trimmed grass and hedges. There was a large lawn and an even bigger backyard. Two rows of magic lantern light the pathway from Nott's front garden to his front door. The grass and hedges were well-trimmed. Two fountains were at either side of the pathway lit by a spell that has the same effect as muggle fairy lights.
The inside of the house was as immaculate as the outside. Everything from the portraits to the knickknacks was polished to the point that they were shiny but not blinding. There was a large dance floor in the middle of the ballroom. Round tables for the guests were skillfully scattered on the side. The large French doors that lined the ballroom lead to balconies.
Typical to wizarding tradition, there was no server insight. Hermione suspected that the food would come to them as soon as they ordered similar to how they served food during the Yule Ball during the Triwizard Tournament.
When Harry, Ron, and Hermione arrived at the ballroom, they were immediately bombarded with the press. Camera flashes almost blinded them, but they knew that they needed to get their obligatory interviews finished so that the paparazzi would bother somebody else instead of them.
"Harry Potter! Harry Potter! You and Ginerva Weasley have been dating for a long time now. When are you going to propose?" A reporter asked.
"When we're ready," Harry responded.
"Who designed your outfits today?"
"Madam Malkins," Harry said.
"Same for me," Ron said.
"How about you, Hermione? Who designed that lovely dress robe of yours?"
"Madam Malkin," Hermione repeated.
"So is Madam Malkin the official dresser of the Golden Trio?"
"For this occasion, she is," Harry said.
"Ron and Harry, how does it feel like catching petty criminals after you guys took down You-Know-Who?"
"A lot more tiring than you would expect," Harry said.
"Hermione, what are you doing with your life?" a Rita-Skeeter wannabe asked.
Hermione glared at her for a second. The question implied that while her two best friends were out there catching criminals, she was just lounging around. She would have snapped at the girl if Ron did not answer for her.
"She's studying to be a medical researcher at St. Mungo's Hospital."
"Hermione! Ron! You two broke up in less than a year ago. How are you guys, still friends."
Here it was, the question she knew that was coming.
"We would always be good friends," Ron said.
"We've been through too much to let a little awkwardness get between us," Hermione said.
"But don't you get jealous of Ron's new girlfriend?" The reporter pressed.
"Lavender and I spent some time together at the Weasley household, and we get along pretty well. In fact, we got ready together for tonight."
They endured a couple more questions before it became clear that they were just making up random questions on the spot. Ron became their savior when he made an excuse about meeting with his family while Harry and Hermione followed along.
While the paparazzi wanted to make them reveal something scandalous and nefarious, the trio's evasive answers forced the reporters to turn their attention to somewhere else.
"Harry! Ron! You two look very handsome." Molly gushed.
"Thank you, mum," Ron said.
"Thanks, Molly," Harry said.
He took his position beside Ginny, who was wearing a cherry red dress robe that flattered her hair.
"Oh, and Hermione, you look absolutely gorgeous." Molly complimented. "You just kept looking better every day. Just watch, by the end of the month, your knight in shining armor would sweep over and take you away."
Hermione thanked her though she knew that it was unlikely.
The event organizers seated Harry, Ron, and Hermione right before the stage, near the dance floor. In contrast, the event organizers placed the Weasley family in the same area.
Hermione picked her food from the menu,
and as suspected, their food magically arrived at them as soon as they placed the order. The food was great, but it was a mouthful to order.
An hour after the ball started, the golden trio gave their speech thanking all of those who attended the event, the donors, and for those who bid at the silent auction.
With the dinner and speech finished, the topmost Ministry officials danced with their spouses encouraging everybody else to do the same. The song was slow and melodic, perfect for couples who wanted to dance the waltz. Harry and Ginny headed toward the dance floor along with Ron and Lavender. Bill and Fleur asked Molly to watch over Victoire as they dance.
Hermione stayed behind, partly because she did not have a date with her and partly because she was not exactly looking forward to dancing alone in high heels. Especially to a song that was clearly meant for couples. She preferred to sit and watch.
Hermione recognized very few classmates around the ballroom. And from the very few she spotted, all of them were purebloods. Former Hufflepuff Ernie Macmillan danced with Hannah Abbott. Neville Longbottom attended the event with his grandmother. Hermione imagined that Neville broke many hearts with that decision. After his awkward phase at Hogwarts, Neville turned out to be a very handsome young man. Along with his war-hero status, Neville was not short of admirers.
Their host, Theodore Nott, was simply standing around with some of his old Slytherin dorm mates. He was not engaged in their conversation, but it was clear that he was a part of it. They were all huddled together, finely dressed, and all their noses were stuck in the air. None of them gave off a friendly atmosphere, making them a pretty isolated group.
Hermione knew that Malfoy attended the ball, and it was very likely that he was chatting with his fellow Slytherins. Hermione's veela wanted to see him in his dress robes. Still, Hermione's rational side told her that it was not a good idea to approach a group of people who made it perfectly clear that they do not want to be bothered.
"Hermione, dear. I barely get to talk to you one on one lately." Molly said as Victoire tried to keep her attention.
"That's alright, Molly. We both have a lot of things in our hands lately."
"Yes, you are very busy right now, aren't you? Do you even have time for friends?"
Hermione thought it was odd that Molly was questioning her time management skills or her relationships, but she answered her anyway.
"Harry and I have tea together every week to catch up. Ron and I, on the other hand, talk to each other during Sunday roast."
"Well, that's very nice," Molly said. "But do you have someone special in your life right now? A boy in your university or even perhaps out of it?"
That caught Hermione off guard. Hermione knew that Molly hoped that she and Charlie would get together, but she did not think that she would be blatant about it.
"Hermione!" Fleur said right next to her. "Come. You zhould meet Monsieur Travers. He iz a British researcher, studying at France."
Hermione did not realize that the first song was finished. Still, she was grateful for the opportunity to leave the conversation. With a quick apology to Molly, Hermione followed Fleur as they made their way across the ballroom.
"I'm zorry about Molly," Fleur said. "Zhe really wantz you and Charlie to get together zo that Charlie has a reazon to go back home more often."
"That's alright. I just hope that we could make it clear to Molly that Charlie and I are never going to be a thing."
"The bezt way to dizuade Molly iz to find your mate," Fleur said. "The iz a lot of men at this ball, and one of them might be your mate."
Hermione kept quiet and let Fleur take her to Ginny, who was chatting with a good-looking young man.
"Hermione! You should meet Benjy Williams. He is Puddlemore United's Seeker." Ginny said.
"Hello, nice to meet you," Hermione said, she shook her hand, knowing both Ginny and Fleur was watching for a reaction.
"So this is the famous Hermione Granger." Benjy leered. "I heard about your intelligence, but what they should tell people is how sexy you are."
Hermione pursed her lips. Ginny and Fleur noticed immediately and quickly looked around for another man to throw in Hermione's direction. Oliver Wood was nearby flirting with a pretty lady.
"Look, Hermione. It's our old housemate Oliver Wood." Ginny said
Oliver Wood's head snapped toward their direction.
"Did somebody call my name?" Oliver said.
"Hey, Oliver," Ginny said. "You remember Hermione? And this is my sister-in-law Fleur."
Oliver briefly shook Hermione's hand, but he was clearly more interested in Fleur. Oliver was not at Hogwarts during the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Hence, it was understandable that he was dazzled by the part-veela. Hermione eyed Ginny and shook her head, which indicated that she felt nothing when they shook hands. After a brief introduction, Ginny quickly dismissed Oliver by introducing him to another pretty girl.
Fleur quickly introduced her to a businessman, followed by a politician and family members of her classmates from Beauxbatons. Ginny introduced her to former housemates and Quidditch players. A few men insisted on dancing with the "stunning and brilliant Hermione Granger," which Hermione politely obliged despite her reluctance to dance in high heels.
Fleur and Ginny must have introduced her to five dozen different men. Some were younger than her, and some were older. Some were essential dignitaries from the continent while some were born and bred in the British Isles. Ginny even tried to introduce her to a recently married man who worked with her at the Quidditch League.
Shortly after each introduction, Hermione indicated that none of them was her mate. She felt grateful that her friends were working so hard. At the same time, Hermione felt guilty that she was hiding the fact she already knew who her mate was. It almost made Hermione wish she did not have her mate dream so that their efforts were not wasted.
Halfway through the ball, Ginny and Fleur took a break from matchmaking and danced with their significant others. For her part, Hermione was very grateful that she could have time for herself. While she chatted and danced with important men and interesting men, her high heels made her feet ache. On top of that, the constant chatter made Hermione's throat sore.
Hermione would have returned to their table, but she knew that Molly would start questioning her again if she had a special man friend. Hermione also knew that Victoire and Teddy would be there as well. As much as she loved Victoire and Teddy, she did not have the energy to keep up with little children right now.
Hermione dragged her tired feet toward the balcony, where no one could bother her. She hid in the shadows and made sure that nobody was looking for her. Once she was convinced that nobody was nearby, she took off her heels. There was no bench available, so Hermione placed her heels beside her and massaged her feet while crouching.
After a while, Hermione's back started to hurt from crouching for so long. She did not feel like going back to the ball just yet, nor did she felt like putting on her shoes. Instead, she pushed herself up so that she sat on top of the marble railings. Her feet dangled a couple of inches above the ground.
A delightful breeze flew by, and for a moment, she imagined what she might have looked. Her light salmon dress robes billowed against the wind while her hair stayed perfectly in place but still looked breezy. Thank you, hair mousse.
The breeze carried a whiff of tobacco, which made Hermione scrunch up her nose. Disgusting. Who in their right mind would voluntarily ruin their lungs?
Hermione angrily turned her head and saw the perpetrator. He was standing near the railings as he smoked his cigar. His gaze was focused on something far away. The bright light from the ball cast a bright light on his back. Hermione could only see his profile, but she could already tell who he was.
It was Draco Malfoy. Suddenly the cigar on his hand made him look cool, even mature. The act that disgusted her just a few seconds ago suddenly became attractive because of her stupid veela hormones.
Draco turned his head towards her. For a minute, Hermione wondered if there was anyone behind her. She even turned around and checked. When she looked back at him again, he was smirking. He was definitely watching her.
Hermione felt self-conscious under his gaze. This was completely different from earlier last week when he just passed her by as if she was invisible. Now he was openly looking at her. Though she could not see his eyes, she felt him judging her. Did he even recognize her? She did present a speech earlier, so there was a pretty big chance that he knew who she was.
"Well if it isn't the 'brilliant and stunning Hermione Granger.'" Draco said.
Hermione tensed. She sensed that he was about to say something, but he took a huff from his cigar instead. She waited patiently for what he wanted to say.
"How are you?"
His tone was neither friendly nor condescending. It frustrated Hermione.
There was a pregnant pause where neither of them did anything. Hermione realized that he was waiting for an answer.
"I'm good. I'm just trying to have a moment for myself. How about you? How have you been?" Hermione said out of politeness.
"I'm doing alright, considering"
Considering what, he never said. Instead, he huffed on his cigar again.
"So, how does it feel?" Malfoy asked cryptically.
"Feel like what?"
"To be the media's darling. It must feel amazing, a group of people following you around like puppies."
At this point, Hermione could already tell that she did not like how this conversation was going. It seemed that after three years, Malfoy still displayed the excellent trait of taking enjoyment out of annoying others.
"Annoying, irritating, pretentious, tiresome. Similar to how you were back in our Hogwarts days."
Hermione expected him to be irritated. Instead, he gave her a smirk and said.
"Touché"