Chapter 7
Hermione and Draco ran towards the entrance of Hogwarts after they had dropped off Owen and Eleina at the children center. It was Thursday which meant the sixth year students had their Hogsmeade trip. Many were up early to get ready and headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast before any of the other years had even woken up. The house elves were told to prepare breakfast early this week just for that very reason. Everyone was excited to take a day off classes, who wouldn't be?
They had finished their breakfast rather quickly, mainly because they arrived late. Unlike most of the couples, Hermione and Draco failed to wake up early. Actually, they were lucky that they had woken up at the time they did. Any later and they would've had to skip breakfast.
As they reached the doors of Hogwarts, a sea of giddy students could be seen. Hermione walked over to Harry and Ron. Draco followed, not surprisingly since Pansy was standing next to Harry.
"Finally! We've been waiting for ages." Ron said as Hermione stood next to him.
"Oh shut it, Weasley." Draco sneered.
Ron glared at him, but didn't have time to say another word as Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore, who stood at the top of the stairs, began to talk.
"Now that we have everyone here, you may all head over to Hogsmeade. I expect every single one of you to be back here by six this evening. That will give you more than enough time to shop. No later or there will be consequences. I hope you all enjoy this trip and savior it because I'm not sure there will be another. That is all. Off you go."
When they arrived at Hogsmeade the first place that Hermione wanted to go to was the costume shop for kids.
"Hermione, I want to go to Honeydukes!" Ron cried.
"Honestly Ron, you need to stop eating so many sweets." Hermione looked at him with a look of discipline.
"Granger, I'll accompany you to the costume shop." Pansy replied.
All four heads snapped over to look at Pansy.
"What?" She asked a little annoyed.
"Do you really want to?" Hermione asked, surprised that Pansy Parkinson wanted to go shopping with her.
"Sure, why not? I want to find a costume for Isabelle anyways."
"Oh okay. Well do you boys want to come?"
Draco, Harry, and Ron all stared at the floor. Obviously they were trying to get out of going costume shopping. Hermione sighed.
"Alright, then you don't have to come, but meet us at Three Broomsticks in 2 hours. And remember that all of us have to wear costumes to the ball, so be sure to stop by a shop." Hermione ordered them and turned around to walk to the costume shop with Pansy. The three boys watched as Hermione and Pansy walked in to the shop.
"As much as I would love to stand around with the two of you," Draco said sarcastically, "I'm off to do a little shopping myself." And with that Draco walked off.
"I hate that ferret face." Ron said as him and Harry walked to Honeydukes.
"I feel the same way." Harry replied.
Hermione and Pansy walked into the costume shop and saw racks and racks of costumes. She's never seen a costume store so enormous in her life. There were costumes for all ages. Excitement filled her as she walked over to the kids section and started rummaging through them. Pansy was off in a different section looking for a costume fit for a three year old.
Hermione saw so many adorable costumes. She giggled to herself when she found a spider costume. Ron would love this, Hermione thought. After half an hour, Hermione still hadn't found a costume for Owen or Eleina. She became overwhelmed with all these costumes. She like all of them and had such a hard time deciding. She was looking through the eighth rack when Pansy walked over to her.
"You haven't found a single one yet?" Pansy asked, holding something in her hands.
"I can't decide! They are all so cute." Hermione said.
"Granger, it's just a costume and it's only for one night. They're never going to wear it again so why don't you just pick one."
"Well, I could save it for my kids in the future."
Pansy sighed and began looking through the rack with Hermione, helping her find something, anything. Hermione peaked over at her. She was shocked when Pansy offered to accompany her here and now she was actually helping her?
"You've…changed." Hermione spoke up.
Pansy shrugged. "I guess I have."
"For the better and I'm glad for it."
Pansy looked at Hermione who smiled at her. She didn't want to, but a smile appeared on her face. A year ago, never in a million years would either one of them even think of having a civil conversation together and now here they are, costume shopping together, for their kids.
Hermione didn't mind having Pansy here with her, surprisingly. Although Hermione was never one to hate, Pansy had always been evil towards her so how could she not despise the girl, but now as they stood in the shop together, Hermione felt that maybe Pansy has changed for the better, for good, and maybe it's okay to slowly accept her. It seemed Harry has.
"How about this baby dragon costume for Owen and this fairy one for Eleina?" Pansy said holding up both costumes for Hermione to see.
"Oh, that's perfect! How come I didn't see them before?" Hermione said taking both costumes and inspecting them. Pansy just laughed and they walked over to the counter to pay.
"What did you get for Isabelle?"
"It's an angel costume."
"It's gorgeous."
"Thanks"
After a couple of more stops at different shops, Pansy and Hermione made their way to Three Broomsticks to meet up with the boys. They walked in and found that it was packed with people. Everyone was showing off their costumes to friends, or just plain showing off. They spotted Harry and Ron sitting at a table near the corner and walked over to them, taking a seat.
"Where's Malfoy?" Hermione asked, looking around.
"How should we know? He walked off by himself." Ron said.
Just as Ron finished his sentence, Draco walked in and took a seat between Hermione and Pansy. He held a very neatly wrapped box that looked like it was from a very fancy and expensive shop.
"What's that?" Hermione asked.
"My costume."
"That looks like it cost a lot." Ron said, staring at the box.
"It probably is for you, but to me it was nothing." Draco smirked.
"Making fun of the Weasel without me, Draco?"
Everyone looked up and saw Blaise Zabini standing over them.
"What are you doing here, Zabini?" Harry said, with a dangerous tone.
"Just joining my Slytherin friends…and I wanted to ask my date what she's going to wear to the Halloween ball, you know, it's nice to match. So Granger, what are you wearing to the ball?"
Ron, who had been taking a sip of his butterbeer, choked as he heard what Blaise has just said. Hermione's eyes widen. Blaise had just announced to her friends something that was supposed to be kept secret until she was ready to tell them herself. She felt her face get red with embarrassment, or was it anger?
"Hermione, tell me Zabini is lying." Harry said.
"I…"Hermione didn't know what to say. The truth was already out, what more was there to say.
"Well, I think I better leave now." Blaise said, getting up.
"No, I'm leaving." Ron said and looked at Harry, who got up as well.
"Pansy, let's go." Harry said and grabbed her arm so she had to follow. Pansy looked back at Hermione and Draco as they walked out the door. Blaise sat back down and took sip of butterbeer.
"What's up with them?" Blaise asked casually.
"Shut up, Zabini!" Hermione yelled and rubbed her face in frustration.
"What did I do?"
"Ugh..I'm going back to Hogwarts. Malfoy, are you coming?"
Draco got up and left with Hermione.
"Honeysuckle" Draco gave the old lady their password and walked in. Hermione followed behind with Owen and Eleina at her sides. She plopped down on the couch and closed her eyes. How am I going to explain this to Ron and Harry? They won't even talk to me. Stupid Zabini.
"Are you alright, Granger?" Draco said. He sat on the arm chair next to the couch.
"I'm just thinking of what I'm going to say to Harry and Ron. They probably hate me right now."
"Why would they hate you? It's not like you killed someone."
"Malfoy, I'm going to the ball with Blaise Zabini. A Slytherin, for god's sake! And I didn't tell them, they had to find out from him."
"Hey, what's so bad about Slytherins?"
Hermione just glared at him. She was in no mood to debate with him.
"I'm going to take a nap." Hermione said and walked to the bedroom.
Draco sighed and decided to work on his Transfiguration assignment. What am I going to do with that girl, he thought.