Reviews: Nicconicco Hahah your wish is my command. Here's your chappie:D beautifly92 Yes, I pretty much adore that dance, don't you? Chelsie and Mark do it so well. missygrace101 Thanks ever so much! Smurfette Mariee Ooh cancan! Sounds pretty interesting:D alright I'll check it out haha. Thanks for your very encouraging comments! CourtneyUchiha94 Thanks, I'm real glad you think so! BeccaSucks Haha yeah i love that part too man. Rachel-Not YESS I love wicked with a passion! Hehe its the best musical ever, and I'm happy you picked up on that haha. Thanks so much! LadyOfTheLancashireManor Yeahh and you're getting mentioned in another one! I know right, I think they're just too cute together!
AN: Hi guys:D Thanks so much for the reviews, they make me happy! Anyway, I really like this chapter, and I hope after you read it you'll adore it too hehe. Anyway, I have a busy school week so I'll probably be updating at the end of this week or beginning of the next. Hope I have enough time to write!
Chapter 9. Music Within You
"Ouch! Kick the briefcase, Granger, not my hand." Malfoy clutched at his hand, letting the briefcase fall to floor.
"Oh sorry! Let's just give that part another go, then."
Hermione had been practicing with Malfoy for the past hour or so. As much as she was loathe to admit, she had been observing his form and technique and he had true talent. Not only did he have perfect placement and control over his body, things that could be achieved through tireless, dedicated practice, but he also could manipulate his body to move lithely and with agility across the dance floor, or with heat and sharpness. They had been going over the dance with crisp precision and she couldn't help but admire his versatility and the single mindedness of which he devoted himself to the music and steps. And not just that. He danced with passion, more than she thought he was capable of.
"You're really good," she blurted suddenly, and winced as she saw Malfoy arch an eyebrow in response. Before he could twist her words to mean something else, she added on. "Who taught you?"
Malfoy shifted, looking a tad uncomfortable. "I told you, I took private lessons."
"Yeah, but who?"
"Granger," he said, giving her a searching look as if to gauge what her reaction would be. "She taught only purebloods."
"Oh." Had Malfoy thought she would be insulted? Well she was, but only slightly. "She taught you well then. Your exactness in dancing amazes me."
"Generous in doling out compliments today, hmm? Well, I suppose good manners indicate that I must return the favour." He seemed amused but also rather sincere. "You're rather good yourself, Granger. I especially like your placement of hands in contemporary dancing."
"I'm just surprised you aren't making any egoistic comments like you always do."
He smirked. Again. God, couldn't he just smile properly for once in his life?
"You underestimate me, Granger. I am perfectly capable of being a..." he groped around for a word.
"Malicious, nasty, elitist jerk?" Hermione supplied with a teasing grin.
"Play nice now, Ms Granger," he made a tsking sound. "As I was saying, I am perfectly capable of being a nice, normal, human being, devoid of malice and evil intent."
To the most part, it was actually true. She and Malfoy had managed to limit their conversation to dance and poking fun at each other, avoiding sensitive topics like the war. They had good fun together and they even debated on several academic subjects, as he was as knowledgeable and self opinionated as she. She marvelled how, when alone, Malfoy could be witty and friendly, but when they saw each other with their own groups of friends, he was quick and cutting with his remarks. However, she had learned to adapt to their semi-truce, and even enjoyed the companionship he provided. They fed off each other's energy while dancing, and Hermione found she could learn much from him, more so than Sean. He was a surprisingly patient teacher.
"Anyway, Malfoy, I don't know how to do this move. It's the one where I'm facing forwards, and you back, and we plie in second and toss our torso forward and back. I feel very queer when I do it, like I'm dancing it wrongly somehow." She demonstrated the said steps under Malfoy's watchful eye. At first, being under Malfoy's scrutiny made her feel uncomfortable and self consicous but now when she did it, she was just glad to have someone who wasn't scared to correct the "know it all." Back in Hogwarts, Malfoy had taken weaknesses and exploited it, but right now he just seemed satisfied to lend a helping hand so she could improve in her dancing skills.
"Here, look at me." Malfoy danced the moves effortlessly as Hermione observed him. He really is very good, she thought. Probably of professional calibre. He moves easily and with strength and confidence exuding from his person. Just look at the damned ferret, dancing like he was born to do it.
Malfoy straightened up. "There, like that. Now you try again." Once again, Hermione repeated the steps that gave her trouble, and as she did so, Malfoy's eyes narrowed in concentration. As soon as she finished, he went up to her, slid his finger around her neat bun and pulled at her hair tie. The rubber band broke and her hair came tumbling down her shoulders in brown, unruly waves.
"Malfoy! What did you do that for!" She turned to gaze at herself in the mirror, raking her fingers through her untamed hair distractedly. Ugh, she looked such a mess! Spinning round on her heel to face him, she groaned. "I look like a lioness!"
"Damn right you do," Malfoy chuckled.
Hermione watched, fascinated, as his face unconsciously split into an adorable, lopsided grin. The elusive smile lighted up his visage and softened his feautures, making him seem less harsh and foreboding. So thats how he looks when he smiles, Hermione mused. He looks so much more human...and utterly gorgeous. His smile was infectious and she found herself beaming right back at him.
"What are you smiling at?" Malfoy laughed again.
"Well, for once in your entire 18 years of existence, you're not doing this." She demonstrated his trademark smirk, and of course it wasn't on par with his, as he had 18 years to perfect it and make it reek of superiority and arrogance, but as it was it came pretty darn close.
He whacked her lightly on the back of her head. "That, is besides the point. I removed your rubber band for other reasons than to amuse myself with your hair that defies the forces of gravity."
At this, he sniggered and Hermione rolled her eyes. Undaunted by her unenthusiastic behavior, he continued explaining. "You need to loosen up, Granger, that's why this movement is not working for you. This isn't ballet or something, it's hip hop. You need to stop controlling your movements. Although this dance requires tense moves and sharpness, you also need to let loose. Like your hair, which has taken on a life of it's own by the way. With all that extra weight hanging down from your head, it'll help you swing your body back and forth. Anyway, you'll be dancing with it down on the actual day, so might as well get used to it now."
"Ah, the walking, talking library of cutting remarks and insults is back! Now that is the Draco Malfoy we all know and love," Hermione said, ever so sardonic.
"You flatter me to no end, Granger. How about a word of thanks for my useful advice? It is customary to say thank you when someone helps you, you know."
"How about after I give it a go first and see whether you 'useful advice' is that useful after all? One can't go giving thanks where thanks isn't due."
"Ooh, burn," Malfoy mocked, but his tone was light and teasing. "How about you try now and we'll see about that thank you."
Hermione tossed her hair behind her shoulders and began to dance. She tried not to focus on what had to be done, and just let her body take over. She found that having her hair loose actually did help, as it required her to use exert extra force when doing the movement and it allowed her to maximize the intended effect of that step itself. A beatific smile graced her features, exhilarated that she had mastered the step. She straightened to face a very smug looking Draco Malfoy. His arms were crossed and he wore a self satisfied expression that wiped the grin straight off her face.
"What?"
"It worked didn't it?"
"Yes," she said shortly.
"And?" He smirked.
"And what?" She paused as realisation dawned. "Thanks," she added grudgingly.
"What was that? I can't hear you." She watched as his smirk grew to epic proportions and rolled her eyes once again.
She carefully enunciated each word. "I said, thank you Draco Malfoy."
"I can't hear you," Malfoy singsonged in return, a smile playing at the corner of his lips.
"Don't push your luck. Let's take the routine from the top."
"Fine."
Granger slumped down on the ground after a session of intense practicing. They had mastered as much of the dance as they could, and now they just had to wait till the next day to learn more.
"I am dead beat,' she announced.
Draco sat down gracefully beside her, crossing his legs. He was tired, but he wasn't going to openly declare it.
"So I suppose you're just going to pretend you're not tired then?" Granger was looking at him.
"I'm not pretending!"
"Are too!"
"It must be more tiring for you than it is for me. See, all I have to do is leave you-"
"Like the cold hearted jerk that you are," Granger interjected. He chose to ignore her little comment and went on.
"As I was saying, all I have to do is leave you. You're the one chasing after me all the time and pining for me in your secretest secret of hearts," Draco said cheekily, alluding to the choreography.
"Yeah, that part sucks. How am I supposed to act madly in love with you?"
"Hey!" He pretended to be affronted. "I thought it would be rather easy for us. No acting involved. My charm and good looks cause women to fall at my feet, and by women, I mean you. And of course, I'm desperate to avoid you, I do that every day of my life."
He waggled his eyebrows at her ridiculously before continuing. "Anyway you did that yesterday without a problem."
He was referring to the previous day's promotional photo shoot, where they had to take photos in character for the Daily Prophet. He had been dressed in pressed office wear, except his shirt was very loosely buttoned and sleeves rolled up. Granger had been dressed in a short flowery high waisted skirt, leotard and a waistcoat. She had draped herself all over him and he had to pretend to busy doing other things. It was actually quite good fun, and they had kept up their repartee that made the wizarding photographers laugh.
"You prat." She shoved him. "Fine, since you're still so full of energy, dance something for me!"
Draco was taken aback. "What do you want me to dance?" he asked, instead of telling her a flat out no that he had previously intended.
Granger shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe what you would have dance if you had auditioned for this competition thing."
She eyed him evilly, identifying his feelings of reluctance. "But of course, if you're secretly exhausted you can just admit it now that you're a pretentious liar."
Of all the low things to say! It was so old school, but still underhanded and sneaky. The bloody woman knew he was dead on his feet and wanted to kick him when he was down. Whatever happened to her self professed morals, her honest ways and means?
"Seems my Slytherin ways are rubbing off on you." He got to his feet. "Fine, I'll dance contemporary. Just so you know, and just so I can prove I could dance circles around you if I wanted to. I'm going easy on you now. Usually I dominate the dance floor. It's just the damn choreo that gives you the spotlight this time."
"I hardly think you could dance circles around me. But you are undeniably good," Granger allowed. "It's not fair though, why on earth are you so versatile...wait don't say anything. I bet you were going to give me a half assed answer like 'I'm a Malfoy' or something."
Draco laughed. Granger made him laugh. She amused him so, with her quirks, quick tongue and sharp wit to rival his own, not that he'd ever admit it. He had smiled at her when she had commented on her reflection resembling that of a lioness, he couldn't help it. And her hair really wasn't that bad. He had grown fond of it. Damn Gryffindor was making him soft. She was so eager and earnest to learn, to learn from him and take whatever advice he had to offer. She could carry intelligent conversation with him, and he relished the debates they had, relished that someone would actually challenge his opinions and object to his views. But one thing he'd never let her challenge was his ability to dance, and to dance phenomenally at that.
"I'll show you what real dancing is and then you'll take whatever half assed answer I give you, Granger," he said assertively.
"Go on...but wait! There's no music!"
Naive woman. Did she honestly think one needed music to dance?
"I don't need music, Granger," he drawled lazily. "Any more queries? Questions? Inquiries? Do you have a questionnaire for me to fill up?"
"No need to impress me with your vast vocabulary and variations for the word 'queries', Malfoy. I'll just er, watch you then."
He shot her a look, and readied himself. Racking his brains, he picked out a routine that left nothing to be desired and began dancing, starting off with a dazzling double split leap. He lost himself in the dance. To him it, dance was not just knowing the steps, it was interpreting them. And Draco had always loved to add his own flair to the dance, making it his own, doing what the routine hadn't called for but instinct had. Dancing made him feel free, like there were no restraints on him. The past didn't matter, his family background didn't matter, the war didn't matter, he was his own self, dancing into what the future would hold.
Hermione watched him dance, enraptured by the way he moved. He was solid and liquid at the same time, executing a perfect pique turn. He was performing an intricate routine made up of soutenus, stag leaps and pencil turns. It was challenging and demanding, requiring a very exact control of body. It didn't matter if there was no music, she couldn't tear her eyes away. His steps were perfect, he never slipped, never faltered. And he danced with so much heart. Like he meant every turn he made. Like every fibre of his being depended on this dance. Like he was dancing as the world caved in around him. When Malfoy danced, it was as if his rough exterior melted away and he bared his soul in a blur of dedication and passion for the craft. She was entranced. The man dancing before her ceased to be her childhood tormentor, ceased to be the annoying prat that he was and instead became the epitome of beauty. He was never still, he was constantly in motion, his toned body whirling, extending, reaching. His body sung a song, the music came from within. Leaping into a final glisse tour jete, he ended the dance and bowed gracefully.
She was so caught in the moment, she didn't applaud. The room was silent, save for the sound of his labored breathing.
"Your dancing," she admitted to him, looking straight into his silver grey eyes, feeling rather light headed. "It was so beautiful."
Malfoy smiled at her for the second time that day and without thinking she plunged on.
"When you were dancing, it was like...it was like I could hear how the music sounded just from watching you."