A/N: Hello, I'm back with Chapter 6! Author's notes are surprisingly hard to write, actually. Anyway, enjoy the chapter!
Wednesday merged into Thursday fluidly, passing like a cool breeze. Hermione found she became increasingly nervous as Thursday evening, the night of the party, loomed ever closer.
When she was first invited to the party, a few weeks before, Ginny Weasley (Ron's youngest sibling and only sister) had jumped on the opportunity of aiding Hermione in the preparation for the event. To Hermione, this meant sitting around doing as she was told while the girl worked her magic. Ginny, though inferior in age and maturity, had established a reputation with Hermione of being a great deal more skilled in the field of fashion. So the idea suited her, and drastically decreased the chances of looking a wreck when she came out the other side. Therefore, when Hermione opened her front door a few hours before she was due to leave, the fiery red-head bustled in, weighed down with a large bag full of all manner of implements, most of which looked like torture mechanisms to Hermione.
Almost immediately they proceeded, Hermione following orders dutifully, Ginny working frantically despite the 3 hours she had to work with, and the fact the outfit was already organised. She hadn't even left that to Hermione, as it turned out that that was the reason the bag was practically overflowing – Ginny had brought along a dress that she knew was perfect for her slightly older friend. Mysteriously, before beginning she ensured all the mirrors in Hermione's room were covered. When asked why, she replied:
"I want it to be a surprise for you, as well as him." Hermione had relayed everything from the day before to Ginny, which had increased her willingness (if that was possible) to make Hermione look like a goddess. After all, you couldn't look just OK with him as a date, even if it was all a farce.
After much plucking, blending, pulling, combing, shading and straightening later, Ginny stood back to admire her work with a smug look. Hermione was itching with anticipation, practically jumping up and down with nerves.
"Can I see now, please? Malfoy will be here in half an hour." She whined.
"Nuh-uh. As much as I want you to admire my work, the mirror in the hallway will be the first you see, and I will only let you out when Malfoy gets here." She smiled evilly. Hermione stuck her tongue out childishly but consoled herself to her own mischief.
"So, how's things with you and Harry?" she gave an exaggerated wink, and laughing as the face opposite her flushed.
"Non-existent would be a good way to describe it, really." Ginny said glumly. "He doesn't like me, 'Mione, it's obvious." Hermione gave a disbelieving look to her crestfallen friend.
"You must be blind, both of you. How on earth are you missing what I see?" Before she could continue the ring of a doorbell caught their attention. Ginny practically sprinted from the room, eager to escape further embarrassment and leaving her friend to try and calm herself. Hermione could feel her heart pounding in every inch of her body, it seemed to reverberate through the silence of her bedroom as she listened to the newcomer enter.
"Why are you here?" Malfoy's voice, drifting up to her bedroom from the hallway, confirmed her suspicions and she busied herself by picking up her clutch bag and putting on the strappy high heels Ginny had picked out, both of which were the same midnight blue as the dress she was wearing.
"It's you, good, Hermione's upstairs." Ginny fussed, completely ignoring the question. "HERMIONE!" she shouted up the stairs.
"I'm coming!" Hermione chimed back, keeping her voice steady by some miracle. She took the first step down the stairs and then another. Each one added to the butterflies in her stomach. When she reached the bottom, she observed the two people before her. Ginny was beaming with a sisterly pride, hands clasped and face lit up with elation. Malfoy looked like he was trying very hard to suppress great shock, but there was a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. Hermione moved deliberately to the familiar mirror on the wall. She gasped with delight and surprise at what she saw.
Standing elegantly opposite her was a different being than had entered the bedroom a few hours before.
Her hair was expertly placed in a neat but natural halo braid, wisps of baby hair having been straightened and directed to give a messier look. She was wearing a simple dress, a deep blue-black, with sturdy lace covering her upper chest from just below the collar-bone to the base of her neck. A soft, thicker material made up the rest, gathered at the waist and falling meticulously to just above the knee. She had a chunky gold bracelet consisting of square chain links encircling her hand, which matched the earrings that somehow accentuated the sharpness of her jaw line. Her makeup was subtle apart from the addition of dark plum lipstick. Her eyelids held a gold shimmer and a small amount of eyeliner and mascara, but their colour stood out against the blue of her outfit more than anything.
She averted her eyes from the mirror and embraced Ginny, murmuring a heartfelt "thank you" before finally turning her attention to Malfoy. He too looked breath-taking. He was dressed in all black; shirt, blazer, trousers and shoes all contrasted with his platinum-blonde hair and pale skin. His lack of tie and the two buttons of his shirt being undone gave the otherwise formal attire a more casual feel. Before she could be accused of staring, Hermione placed a coat over her arm and waited as Ginny (who had returned upstairs to retrieve her things) hopped back down the stairs, still looking immensely pleased with herself.
They left together, Ginny soon walking one way and the two others jumping on a bus towards Blaise's house. They didn't speak until just outside the grit covered driveway to Blaise's house.
"Nervous?" Malfoy enquired, with an amused look at Hermione's stunning but concerned face.
"Just a bit." She admitted.
"Don't worry. We're going to blow them away." Hermione couldn't help but smile as he referred to them as 'we', but immediately scolded herself for being so ridiculous. It was Malfoy, after all. Feeling slightly more confident, she followed him towards the front door. There was a vague murmuring of numerous voices and the much louder pulse of blaring music. Malfoy rapped on the door loudly, and offered Hermione his arm. She coloured at the suggestion.
"It's only so I can get in the door, Granger." He misunderstood her blush for anger and rolled his eyes. She latched onto him, holding on with a slightly stronger grip than necessary, her knuckles white. The door opened and Crabbe stood behind it.
"So you're finally here. The house is already packed." His eyes turned on Hermione and widened slightly. "Who's this, Draco?" he asked thickly.
"This is Granger." He emphasised her name as if he was talking to a five-year old. Crabbe looked shocked for a second but ushered them in quickly. They both dropped their hands to their sides hurriedly. Hermione almost stopped dead as she admired the vastness of the house she had just stepped into. It wasn't just big, it was immense. She didn't quite know where to look – from the towering staircases, to the multiple rooms leading out of the hallway, to the incredible hangings and paintings decorating the walls.
"Don't ogle, it's not dignified." A whisper close to her ear broke her from her trance and Malfoy walked past her, placing both their coats on a stand. He beckoned to her with a hand, saying in a raised voice, over the noise: "C'mon, I'll show you around."
They passed through room after room, Hermione mapping each part of the house in her head. There was the kitchen-diner – open plan, modern, filled with snacks and cheap alcohol that Blaise had managed to sneak in only because his parents would be away for the night. Then there was a living room, wide and elegant and, Hermione found, the source of all the music. It was packed with moving bodies and overpoweringly hot, not to mention deafeningly loud. The floor above held another living space, and all the bedrooms. The second living room was more centered on entertainment, with a TV on the wall and a games console that was being hogged by a group of boys. This room had a balcony leading off the front of the house, which Hermione presumed she had been too nervous to notice when she arrived. She liked it in there as you could still hear the music from downstairs but much quieter, and there was a bookcase.
"You can leave me here, I think I know my way around." She smiled her thanks to Malfoy.
"Are you sure? Well, I'll be around." She was confused by his apparent genuine concern, so just nodded. He left, and she suddenly felt vulnerable again.
"Hermione?" It had been five minutes since Malfoy had left her and she had stood in the same place, trying to ignore the admiring looks she had been getting. The familiar voice behind her couldn't have come sooner.
"Harry! Thank goodness, I feel so out of place," she exclaimed.
"You don't look it Hermione. Quite frankly, you look amazing." Hermione smiled.
"It's all thanks to Ginny, she spent hours to get me looking like this." Harry stiffened at the sound of that name, blushing very slightly.
"What's she done now?" Ron bustled in noisily, slurring very slightly.
"A brilliant job, wouldn't you say, Ron?" said Harry sneakily. Ron's eyes widened slightly when he finally looked up at Hermione and she stared at the floor, uncomfortable.
"Blaise is making a speech in a moment," Harry said hastily, realising his mistake. He led them downstairs and Hermione followed thankfully.
"Has Ron been drinking?" Hermione asked, scolding Harry as if he were responsible, while Ron tripped down a step.
"He may have had a bottle of something…" Harry admitted sheepishly.
"Hmph. Well, don't let him have any more." She instructed.
Naughty Ron! And true, they are technically not supposed to be drinking but they're rebellious teens, what can you do? See you next time x