Chapter 2: At Least the Ribbon Is Black
"Ello' everyone!" Fleur Delacour spoke into her wand after casting the sonorous charm on it, ensuring that her words could be heard by all the dancers gathered. "I ope' you are excited for the first day of So You Think You Can Dance! Zis' competition will span over 7 weeks and every week you will learn and perform a dance, be it contemporary, jazz, waltz, or a type of ballroom dance, to be judged and televised."
Hermione and Ginny grinned at each other in anticipation. They had checked out the competition, and found that they knew a few of their fellow competitors and were quite suprised at who they were, namely, Parvati Patil and Blaise Zabini. They assumed that the rest of the dancers were either their juniors from Hogwarts or from other schools.
"You will dance in pairs and also you will be staying in a hotel near zis dance hall. In spare time you will also get to attend special masterclasses by famed dancers! Now, I shall introduce your judges! I am Fleur Delacour. And this is Xavier Smith." The man gave a curt nod.
"Purvis Salvoy!" Purvis stepped forward and waved and winked at the group of dancers in front of him before Fleur could say anything. "Now," he continued," lets see if we're all here." With a wave of his wand, he conjured up a list of names. His eyes narrowed and he glared at Xavier. "It seems that we have one dancer that hasn't arrived yet..."
Just then, Draco Malfoy strode into the room, clad in black robes, his blonde hair slicked back and his grey eyes exuding superiority. Ginny gasped and Hermione groaned, "We can't escape him! In Hogwarts, he's there, tormenting me for my hair and my face and for being alive and he's always flaunting his annoying fan club of every girl in Hogwarts. Now I've graduated Hogwarts and joined a dance competition, and right here, in the very last place I expect him to be, he strolls in. Does he even dance? I bet it's purely through the money-"
"I hate to interrupt your little tirade, Granger," Draco cut in, "but you are getting rather loud and I'd prefer not to spoil my hearing by having to listen to you talk. I am flattered though, that you thought my fan club consisted of every girl in Hogwarts, and yes, I do dance, and like everything else I do, I must say I'm good at it. Now you... bookish, prude Granger, a dancer? Who would have thought-".
"It seems to me," Salvoy interceded, "That you two are already acquaintances! Hogwarts, perhaps? Or dare I say, due to your seeming familiarity marred by conflict, lovers in the past?" He winked conspiratorially at the camera filming the entire exchange. Hermione sputtered, her face flaming red although she wasn't sure whether it was from anger or embarrassment. "Lovers? Me and Malfoy? No way!" Ginny put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Just leave it," she murmured. "Don't let him spoil your first day!"
Draco Malfoy had no idea, as he waltzed in, fashionably late, that he would encounter the She-Weasely and Granger. He had no clue that they even danced! But he was here, and so were they, and what better way for him to make his own day than to spoil theirs? He plastered a hurt look on his face. "I'm wounded Granger, I really am. Although we may not be on the best of terms now, especially since you were the one who ended it with me because you were so sick of all the other girls swooning over me," he sighed dramatically, "It's really no reason for you to hide our relationship!"
"Malfoy!" Granger growled at him. "There. Is. No. Relationship! Get that into your thick head, you egoistical prat!" She looked pretty crazy, her face redder than he thought was humanely possible, and her hair was frizzier than usual. He loved getting a rise out of her.
"I'm so sorry to call this little spat to a halt," Salvoy said, and indeed he did look very sorry, he had been enjoying their quarrel, it would make good television, "But we do have to get a move on! We need to get you to your living quarters, and call you down into the dance studio, get you into your pairs and get you your assigned dances. You can continue fighting later. When more cameras are around. The more footage the better!"
"I'm changing my mind about him," he heard Granger mutter to the She-Weasel. "He's an annoying prick." He smirked. That much was true. He noticed that in the wake of his arrival, a buzz of chatter had begun. He looked around, sizing up the competition. He was in it to win it, of course. Holy crap! He had spotted a olive skinned, dark haired wizard.
"Blaise!" he yelled. "Merlin, what the hell are you doing here? You dance?" Blaise Zabini sauntered over to him. He wore a self satisfied look on his face. "I thought I'd see you here." Draco gaped at him in a very undignified manner. "Lost a bet to Pansy in sixth year. Had to follow her to dance class. As you did. Parkinson can't keep secrets to save her miserable life. And then I lost to Pansy again at poker and i had to follow her to audition and funnily enough I got in and she didn't. Not that I'm complaining. There's eight hot girls here and one very happy Blaise Zabini."
"You fail to notice the other 6 guys. And me. Draco Malfoy, girl magnet extraordinare." Draco put in.
"Yes, there's one girl extremely attracted to you right now," Blaise replied dryly, looking pointedly in Granger's direction. She was chatting with the redhead and some other girl that Draco remembered to be from Ravenclaw... ah Padma. Or Parvati? He could never tell the damned twins apart. Not that he bothered anyway.
"Attention!" Draco turned around at the voice of his distant uncle, Xavier Smith. It was thanks to him that Draco had gotten in without having to trouble himself with an audition. "I will now activate the Portkey that will take us to The Ritz. Gather round this chair." The contestants crowded around, there was just enough space for the 16 dancers and the 3 judges. Smith tapped the chair with his wand. "Portus." The chair glowed and everyone reached in and mangaged to touch a part of the chair. Then there was the familiar jerking behind the navel and the world dissolved in a rush of color and sound.
Hermione stumbled and caught herself. She had almost knocked into...her eyes travelled upwards and met cold grey ones. She jerked backwards. "Malfoy!"
"I would have you know that I'm not to thrilled either, Granger, you're the muddiest filth of them all. And yet, you just can't keep your hands off me can you." he drawled lazily.
"And yet, you just can't be civil, can you, ferret boy." Hermione retorted hotly before turning her back on him and walking away. Ugh! Something about Malfoy just riled her so. She looked around at her surroundings and found that she was in what seemed like a living room. The walls were painted in a creamy light blue colour and the place was decorated tastefully with paintings and lightings. Comfortable white sofas and side tables were placed in the middle of the room, and underneath was a navy blue carpet.
"Zis' is zee meeting place. Whenever we call a gathering of sorts, eet will be here." Fleur explained. She gestured toward the door at the left side of the room. "Zis will lead you to zee hallway where your rooms are situated. Zee door on that side will lead you to the lobby, where you can find your way to the dance studios, the dining hall and the auditorium." The contestants nodded eagerly.
"Now we are going to tell you who you will be rooming with," continued Purvis Salvoy cheerfully. "Your rooms are guarded by portraits, just like it is in Hogwarts. You will be able to set the password once you get there. I will start with the ladies... Parvati and Selma. Your portrait is that of a french lady walking 4 dogs. Iris and Kate. Your portrait is one of a mermaid. Ferine and Galinda, your portrait is one of a knight. Ginny and Hermione. Your portrait is one of a englishwoman at tea."
Hermione gave Ginny a triumphant grin. They would be roomies! Purvis went onto the boys and Hermione dully noted that Draco was rooming with Blaise. Stupid gits.
"Now you will find out who is your dancing partner." Xavier Smith told them. "Take a ribbon." In his hands was a bunch of black ribbons. There was a muttering of Accio Ribbon and everyone found themselves holding a one. Hermione held hers in her hand and she slowly saw a name being written in gold letters. Sean Finnegan. She breathed a sigh of relief. She knew Sean, he was Seamus Finnegan's older brother and he had graduated two years earlier. Looking around, she spied him and beamed and he grinned back. She turned to ask Ginny who she got. Ginny handed over her ribbon silently. In elegant, gold script, was spelled out the name Draco Malfoy.
Salvoy smiled benignly at all of them. "Don't worry, there will be time to meet and get to know your partner later! Off to you rooms now, freshen up and dress in your dance attire and be back here when your ribbon glows! Do remember to always keep the ribbon on your person, it will be our method of communication. Tie it to you hand or something." He didn't miss the scandalized looks of most of the boys. "Don't look so dismal, fellows,"he called out. "At least the ribbon is black."