AN: This is my longest chapter yet guys! Read and review, hope you like it! I'll try to post once a week from now on too. The links up on my profile too, for draco and hermione's dance!
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, the SYTYCD show or the choreo for Draco and Hermione's dance!
Reviews: beautifly92 hehe yeah it was fake! Thought it would be a funny twist. Yeah too bad wasnt it haha. Karate Chic Thanks so much for your review! I really wanted to show how Draco is conflicted and how his relationship with Hermione isn't easy for him. Nicconicco Ooh i hope it wasn't too confusing! You can tell its only for the video right? CourtneyUchiha94 Wow! I'll look out for you on the telly then! Haha, thats so pro(: I've done ballet about 10 odd years and contemp about five but thats it. I think salsa is a cool ballroom dance! LadyOfTheLancashireManor YOU'RE WELCOME. Thanks ever so much for your faithful reviewing it always makes me smile! LK-HoGwArTs-hEaDgIrL Thanks a bunch!
Chapter 11. Round 2
Hermione shifted uncomfortably backstage, feeling keyed up and extremely anxious. Soon, the goddamn video clip would end and she would have to dance onstage with Malfoy, pretending to be wildly and fervently in love, with him not returning her affections, in front of the whole english wizarding population. Very daunting prospects indeed.
"Dracooooooo! Honey, will you be back for dinner?" Hermione Granger pranced over and threw her hands around Malfoy.
"No, I'm working late tonight sweetheart."
"Aww there's a good hubby, bringing home the bacon." She tiptoed to pat the top of his head. If she had to pretend to be in love with Malfoy, at least she could have a little fun while she was at it. Or so she thought. He gripped her waist and swung her round, letting her body tilt back. He lowered his head till their faces were mere inches apart. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"You know you love me," he said huskily. He let her body fall back more, and grazed her forehead with his lips. She shivered at the touch of his lips on her skin. It felt too intimate to have his lips caressing her skin. She felt a blush rising to her cheeks and she squeaked and he promptly dropped her to the floor.
"You prat!" she screeched and got up gingerly. "And that's why I'll never ever ever marry Malfoy!"
Draco made a big show of wiping his lips with his handkerchief. "Like I'd ever marry you either." He smirked.
Oh God. Hermione winced as she watched the snippet, her nerves temporarily forgotten. She couldn't believed how she'd practically jumped on Malfoy at the start of the clip. She couldn't believe how he had nearly kissed her and oh so casually dropped her after that! She couldn't believe the audience's uproarious laughter! For a horrible moment, she pictured Ron's and Harry's outrage as if they were beside her watching that incriminating video too. She turned to glare at the blonde dancer beside her.
"I suppose you enjoyed that didn't you!" she hissed fiercely.
Malfoy smirked at her with his eyebrows raised. "Of course I did, Granger. Of course I did."
The day had passed fairly quickly, and once again they had gathered in the early afternoon for a briefing and prep on all the nitty gritty details, such as the order of performance and their solos, what time they had to be ready by, et cetera. They had a short but thorough full dress rehearsal, and then were left to prepare for their performances. Draco and Hermione had chosen to get ready separately and meet up in the Waiting Room backstage. They had worn the same outfits as they had during the promotional photo shoot, and Hermione had let her hair down. She had performed a spell on her unruly hair, making it fall in sleek curls, and she prayed that it would hold her hair in a manageable condition till after the show ended. When Malfoy had seen her, he had let out a low whistle. Hermione had glared at him, and asked what he had been insinuating. He had replied that it was merely that her mop of hair no longer resembled a woodland creature, and he was fairly impressed. Jolly good way to start the evening, it was.
"Are you scared?" she asked him hesitantly.
Malfoy didn't miss a beat. "Not at all," he declared, patting his gelled hair that resembled a platinum helmet, seeming somewhat unsure. Hermione rolled her eyes. Typical high and mighty Malfoy.
"Are you?" he questioned, coming across as bored and superior, though Hermione knew that it was just a pretense of bravado. She would bet her Limited Edition Hogwarts, A History that under his haughty exterior, he was quaking with fear.
She gave him a sly, sideways look and answered. "No more than you are." Her words were dripping with meaning.
Malfoy grimaced at her. She took it that he knew she didn't buy his confident and careless act.
The video drew to a close and the audience roared their approval. Hermione's heart hammered in her chest, and her feet felt glued to the spot. The butterflies residing in her tummy started going haywire and seemed to have increased tenfold in number and size. Unconsciously she reached for Malfoy's hand, and upon finding it, gripped it tight, as if seeking reassurance. She was on tenterhooks. To her surprise, he squeezed her hand in return before letting it slip from his grasp gently.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, for our last item for tonight, I present to you Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger!" Elphie announced and the lights dimmed.
"Remember," he whispered, his voice unusually hoarse and emotive. "You're in love with me."
Hermione's breath caught in her throat. She wanted to twist around to look at him but there was no time. It was their cue. Quickly, they darted onstage and assumed their positions. As she waited for the music to start, she chanted to herself. I am in love with Malfoy. I am in love with Malfoy. I am in love with Malfoy.
God he was so bloody nervous.
Not that he'd admit it to anyone of course. Draco had been anxious ever since he had woken up that morning, breaking into a cold sweat because of a nightmare, the same garish dream that haunted him nearly every night, that lingered subconsciously in his waking hours. He would be hard pressed to find a worser way to start the day than to relive the horrors of war in the moments before he woke. On top of that, Blaise had been giving him a tough time and more often than not in their room, tense silence pervaded the air. However, when in the Waiting Room alongside Granger, all that seemed mere trifles. Sitting there, he had been scared shitless. They were the last performers, so he was forced to watch everyone leave the room all jittery, and come back either triumphant or in tears. Blaise, who partnered with Kate, had been especially sure of their performance, an awkward, quirky jazz piece. Galinda and the Sean guy, they had nothing to worry about either. He had watched their performance, some kind of waltz, and he himself knew it to be flawless. Wesley and the Weaselette gave an exceptionally strong performance of their rumba routine too, even to him, the seasoned ballroom dancer. Everyone was on top form tonight, sans Iris and Micheal. Iris apparently disliked her partner with a passion, and it showed in her dancing, despite the precise execution of movements that their lyrical jazz choreography required. After Ferine and Eugene had done their piece, Selma and Marcus had gone on, and then it was their turn to wait backstage.
He knew not what had possessed him then to grasp her hand, or what had made him whisper those implicative words in her ear before he went onstage. After everything, he'd just blame it on pre-performance rush. Granger was a dancer, she'd understand that it didn't mean anything. Or at least he hoped so. Right now, he was a undignified mess of nerves. He needed to calm down. He needed to get his act together. He...he needed to be himself. Running onstage, he began to channel the prat he'd been in his schooldays. He had realised early on while learning the choreography that his part called for a workaholic, unfeeling bastard. He had been confident in his ability to portray the character while dancing. He didn't need to act. It didn't even require any extra attention on his part. He just needed to be an ass to Granger, which was pretty much what he'd been doing his whole life.
But he had soon found he didn't want to do that anymore. Much to his consternation, he discovered that liked that he could make her laugh instead of inciting spiteful remarks. Armed with the troubling revelation, he had to go about his business pretending nothing was amiss. More fool him, thinking that would work. He
Now that he was onstage, Draco got himself into game mode. He tossed himself into the role, into the dance with abandon, eager to leave his turbulent thoughts to lag behind. And then, the music started.
Their bodies moved in tandem to the rhythmic pulse of the song, energetic and heated. They dipped and spun, wild and loose, yet tautening and controlling their moves at the right time. He picked up his briefcase, readying himself to stride off, Granger stormed up behind him just as he anticipated, halting him in his tracks. He pulled her to him, sliding and gliding in perfect time, performing contemporary inspired turns, traversing the stage with arms entwined. Their bodies wove a story as they circled round each other, ringing true of love and love lost.
She threw her arms around him, dragging him down. His body jerked away from her though his heart screamed not to. Smoothly slipping behind Granger, they enacted the move they both knew so well, letting his chin skim across her outstretched arm to kiss her softly and gently on the cheek. He felt her body tense at his touch, even though they had been over the motion loads of times. She then deftly body waved away from him as they continued their dance. The whole thing was seamless, the isolations of the chest and the triple popping movement done in unison. He let his body do the work, effortlessly recalling the steps and executing them. Reaching the climax of their performance, he manipulated her body with well timed movements, placed his hand over his chest, to 'steal her heart' per se. She pulsed forcefully and he fisted his hand, as if capturing her heart, holding it in his stared at Granger, who looked up at him, her face a fusion of vulnerability and hurt. Tearing his eyes away, and hardening his face with resolve, he jazz-walked decisively to the other end of the stage, picking up his briefcase, knowing that behind him, she was dancing a short solo of agony. He turned, and locked eyes with her one more time, their gazes speaking volumes, their faces hardened in understanding. He had to remind himself it wasn't real, as he turned and left her behind, alone and defeated.
It was over. She didn't dare shift from her ending position till she saw Malfoy walking back over to her with a small smile on his face. With applause ringing in her ears, Hermione slowly extricated herself from her emotions, the devoted love and eventual hurt that enabled her to dance her role so convincingly. She was especially proud of her little solo at the end. She had really gave into her emotions and let her body take control at that point. She allowed herself a grin as she met Malfoy in the middle and together, they faced the judges. Elphie, clad in a gorgeous forest green robe, gave them an encouraging smile, nodding her approval as she addressed the crowd.
"Shall we see what our judges have to say? Purvis, if you please!"
"I thought that was amazing!" Purvis Salvoy enthused, much to the agreement of the audience. "There was real emotion there, real feeling. Your bodies and faces told a story while your dancing really held us in thrall. Well done! If you don't make it to the next round, I'm a Cornish pixie!"
Everyone cheered. Fleur cleared her throat to get their attention. She seemed pleased.
"I agree with Purvis. Zat' was really spectacular. I thought zat' hip hop would not be your strong suit because of both your dance backgrounds, but I was wrong. You two really brought out zee essence of the dance. Hermione, you loosened up more than I initially thought you would, and Draco, you adapted to this style well. I must say I am very surprised, your partnership seems to work well for you. There is much chemistry in your performance and I think zat' you two are shoo-ins for the next round!"
Her words were met with more clapping, but Hermione was nervously anticipating Xavier Smith's reaction. She stole a glance at Malfoy from the corner of her eye, his face was seemingly impassive, but she could tell from the way he held his body that he thought the worst was over, that indeed, he was as happy as a clam with the positive comments they had received.
"I think your performance was a very good one," Xavier admitted reluctantly. Hermione had the nagging suspicion that had her partner had been anyone save for Malfoy, the formidable judge would not have been so forthcoming with his praise. "I noticed something interesting, Draco. I believe that you were intended to be obsessed with your work, and you weren't supposed to return Hermione's affections. However, in the dance you portrayed the character as someone who was torn between work and wife, you seemed to be as besotted with Hermione as you were with your job. It seemed to pain you that you had to leave her-"
"I found it touching," Fleur interrupted, dipping her head in assent.
Xavier did not come across as pleased to have been cut in on and continued, disgruntled. "I thought that it was very insightful of you, as it is quite a common situation nowadays. You made the character your own and added your own touch to the dance. Good work."
Hermione was slightly miffed that he had not mentioned her, but she chose not to dwell on that and rather, she focused on basking in the success of their performance. She beamed at Malfoy. It seemed like they would have quite a fair chance of landing top this week!
Elphie picked up where the judges had left off. "Now is the time to owl in your votes, wizards and witches! If you think Draco and Hermione were the star performers tonight, vote for them! If you haven't voted yet and you would like to do so, there is still time, and do be quick about it so we can put all these poor blighters backstage out of their misery." She chuckled to herself and waved the pair offstage.
Hermione and Malfoy headed offstage to the sound of Elphie continuing to encourage the viewers to vote.
"We have nothing to worry about," Malfoy told her confidently, then lowered his voice a notch. "If anyone is going home this week, it'll be Iris and Micheal, or that Selma girl."
Hermione raised her brows. "Iris? You're expecting your lovely, charming girlfriend to be booted off?"
She was surprised to see his face harden. "She's not my girlfriend," he said darkly, before brightening considerably and poking her side. "Anyway, dearest, darling Granger, you're my wife."
She pinched him lightly in return. "Come off it Malfoy!"
"That's no way to treat your husband," he retorted playfully.
As they re-entered the Waiting Room, which was filled with nervous chatter of couples occupying different areas of the place, his companionable manner abruptly ceased. Regaining his inscrutable facial expression, he strode over to a chair to take a seat, striking Hermione as somewhat lonely. She had half a mind to join him but at that moment, Ginny bounded over to envelope her in a hug, causing her to forget all about Malfoy.
"You were fantastic!" Ginny praise enthusiastically, her heavily made-up eyes sparkling with genuine excitement for her friend. Hermione smiled fondly at the redhead witch who scantily clad in a fiery red dress that was nearly identical to the shade of her hair and killer black heels.
"So were you," she pronounced affectionately. She had been so busy over the past few days practicing she only really was able to catch Ginny at mealtimes, and even then it was only every other meal. In fact, she'd wager that she had spent more time with Malfoy than she had with Ginny.
"Everyone was fantastic today," Ginny replied, a tad gloomier. "Top notch performances this week, hardly anyone screwed up. Which means my chances are-"
"You won't be going home," Hermione assured her, patting her on the back.
"I should hope not!"
The girls continued chatting to ease their nerves, but soon everyone in the room lapsed into tense silence, glancing occasionally at each other, analysing their chances and dreading the time of which they would be called up to receive the results. On muggle television, Hermione distinctly remembered the process of voting to be longer, but she assumed since this was in wizarding context, they would have magical ways and means to speed everything up. She decided to look it up in the library later. She had found that the Ritz did have a library with a rather substantial collection of books. Nothing on the Hogwarts library, of course, but well stocked enough. She hadn't a chance to visit it yet, but she would amend that soon enough! That is, if she made it to the next round, she sternly reminded herself.
A good half hour later, a nondescript portrait of a matronly looking woman hanging on the wall, spoke.
"Hello pumpkins," she said with an annoyingly patronizing air that did nothing to soothe their anxiety and instead, startled many. "I've been informed to tell you that you ought to get up into your rows and wait backstage. All the votes are in. Quickly now, look sharp about it!"
Hermione filed outside with the rest of the dancers, and a few were muttering obscenities concerning the "crazy old bat" that had so unceremoniously ordered them out of the room. She secretly found it amusing but she was too nervous to crack a smile. Malfoy joined up with her and true to form, the old twerp smirked. This time she found it oddly familiar and comforting, the stinging edge of his superior half-arsed smile had been subdued somehow over the course of the week. Standing beside the rich and skilled Malfoy, in the midst of highly accomplished and talented dancers, in the pitch darkness of backstage, waiting to receive their results, Hermione felt impossibly disheartened.
"Doubting yourself, Granger?"
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," she replied dryly.
"Aww, itsy bitsy Granger feeling scared? Don't worry," he said with a saucy wink that she could barely see in the darkness. "I'm your partner. And Malfoy's never ever lose."
"Now that's reassuring."
"Of course."
Their short exchange was put on hold by Elphie, who welcomed the dancers onstage from her place near the three judges.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I give you your top seven couples!"
The dancers walked out into the glaring brightness of the stage lights, met by applause and an enthusiastic audience as they positioned themselves in the vast space. Hermione saw the cameras panning and assumed a confident expression. She sneaked a glimpse at Malfoy who looked supremely unconcerned. Oh, to be as arrogantly confident as he was in his place in the competition. If only she was as self assured as he. For once in her life she envied the bastard.
Once everyone stood in a straight line, all having perfect dancing postures and similar poised demeanors, Elphie resumed talking.
"The votes have been owled, and tallied. Blaise and Kate, Draco and Hermione, Ferine and Eugene, Galinda and Sean, please step forward." She paused as they followed her given instructions. "If I have called your names, you are safe."
Hermione felt her heart swell with relief and she gave Malfoy a look that said phew! Maybe they hadn't come out on top, but she was willing to bet that it had been a close vote, and at least they could stick around another week to beat the heck out of everyone else the next round. Malfoy inclined his head in return, probably expressing similar sentiments.
"Ginny and Wesley," she broke off her sentence for dramatic effect, and you could feel the tension in the room surmount. Hermione crossed her fingers for her friend, wishing her all the luck in the world. "You are top for the week!"
Cheering erupted from the audience and from the dancers onstage. The judges looked duly pleased, save for Xavier Smith, who was frowning for some reason, and his unpleasant look was directed in Malfoy's general direction. But Hermione didn't care. She rushed forward to pull Ginny into a bear hug. The other witch's face was positively glowing and she seemed to be walking on air.
"I told you so!" Hermione said cheerfully.
"Oh my, I'm so surprised!" Ginny squealed, seeming not a bit flustered, but ecstatic in every single way. She clutched her partner's hand tightly as Elphie rounded off the show on a solemn note.
"Selma and Marcus, Iris and Micheal, you guys were the bottom two couples for the week."
Hermione felt genuinely sorry for Micheal. He was a nice, friendly guy, and a good dancer. It was just his luck to be stuck with an absolute cow like Iris. She hoped he wouldn't be sent home for another's mistakes.
"Selma and Marcus...I'm sorry to say that you two have been eliminated. Which means Iris and Micheal, you are safe."
Selma's shoulders slumped dejectedly and Hermione could tell she was fighting back tears. Marcus put his hand around her in an attempt to comfort the strawberry blonde, but it showed clearly too on his face how disappointed he was. To be knocked out of the competition so early was something quite devastating. A few of the dancers closer to them, like Kate and Ferine and Sean, crowded around offering their support and condolences. Hermione didn't know Selma or Marcus too well, so after giving them a pat on the back, she held back along with Ferretboy, Blaise and big surprise, Iris. She was whining piteously to Malfoy as Elphie closed the show for the night.
"It's the damn Micheal, Draco. I can't work with him, I can't!"
Hermione snorted audibly.
"Well, you're not exactly a joy to dance with either. Pity the poor chap." She was annoyed at the girl's grating voice and unpleasant disposition. Honestly! Putting all the blame on another.
Iris gave her a venomous look and cursed in an unbecoming manner. Malfoy lifted his eyes to meet hers. He seemed visibly surprised.
"Seems like I have been a bad influence on you, Granger! Good on me, then!"
"Sod off, Malfoy." It was the best response that came to her at that point in time. Short, sweet and concise.
"Dancers, listen up!" Elphie's voice rang out, drowning out the rest of the talking. Probably a very effective sonorous charm. Hermione looked around to find that the auditorium was practically empty, everyone having either flown or apparating off, taking their leave through whatever mode of transport struck their fancy.
"Sorry to interrupt you guys, but I suggest you run along back to your rooms now and vacate the auditorium. We ended rather late tonight and I know you people are tired. It's been another long day for us." She paused to smile kindly and sympathetically. "And Selma and Marcus, I am truly sorry. I had hoped to see more of you, but do know this isn't the end of your dancing career! You can take as much time as you need to pack, and then you may apparate out of here. For the rest of you, scat! Now!"
Blaise was shooting him dagger-like glares, like it was his fault Iris almost got kicked out of the competition. They were in their room, getting ready for bed, and Draco could feel Blaise's eyes burning holes right through the bathroom door and into his back as he brushed his teeth. Draco had no idea what he might have did to anger the guy, but he was in no mood to face up to an angry Slytherin that night. An angry Slytherin was a dangerous Slytherin and Draco did not particularly like the thought of Blaise hexing his balls off while he slept. Tiredly, he wondered what had made Blaise so mad. If it was about him getting along with Granger, he couldn't care less anymore. They were partners and Blaise needed to get over his unfounded worries that Draco was going soft and mushy on the Gryffindor. He wasn't. He yawned. He was just completely spent.
Pushing the bathroom door open, he edged past the irate Blaise, mumbling something about leaving a book in the Meeting Place, and quickly apparated there. He collapsed onto an inviting, cushy looking sofa. Maybe he would just stake out there and wait. Perhaps by the time he went back to their room, Blaise would be fast asleep. Meanwhile, it was just so comfortable on the sofa. He stretched out and relaxed.
Hermione tossed and turned in her bed. She couldn't sleep. Ginny had begun snoring the minute her head hit the pillow but she had been lying awake ever since. It annoyed her to no end, when she couldn't sleep though she was so dead tired. Another one of her pet peeves. She had a lot of them. She sat upright, somewhat sluggishly, and threw the covers off. Maybe it'll help if she took a walk. Carefully, so as not to wake the redhead, Hermione crept out of her room and then walked leisurely down the hallway, enjoying the peace and quiet in the unearthly hour of two in the morning. She entered the Meeting Place. A small smile crept over her face as she appreciated the stillness of the night, with only her wake.
"Mggnhh. No, please don't, please don't!"
A pained cry interrupted her musings. Hermione started. Someone was getting attacked! Someone was hurt! But where? She drew her wand and scanned the room rapidly searching for the cause of the disturbance. Her eyes alighted on a thrashing figure on one of the couches. He was clad in black silk pajamas which was in stark contrast with his almost platinum blonde hair...
"Malfoy," she breathed.