Chapter Eight

Ginny mouthed the words as Amy Lee's voice drifted through her head phones. "Call Me When You're Sober" hummed gently through her ears, at least as gently as that song went.

She glanced up as her roommate, Hermione, entered their flat.

"Hey, Mione," she said, pulling the ear pieces out of her ears as Hermione set her bag down and came to join her at the kitchen table.

"Hey Gin. What have you been up to?"

"Just waiting."

"For what?"

"My dress."

"I thought we had decided it wasn't coming?" Hermione asked, riffling through the mail and handing Ginny her letters.

"I know it isn't coming. Which means I'm really just doing nothing."

Hermione smiled and shook her head. "God forbid anyone actually fall in love with you, Ginny. You'll eat them alive."

"Hey, just cause I learned my lesson, doesn't mean I have to stop looking. And believe me, Malfoy is most certainly not hard to look at."

Hermione shook her head again.

"If you say so, Gin. But out of curiosity..." Hermione began.

Ginny looked up from the copy of the Quibbler in her hands. Luna always sent her a year subscription for her birthday. The magazine was pointless but fun to read.

"What?"

Hermione smiled and leaned across the table. "What kind of dress would you want?"

Ginny smiled back, eyes slightly starry. "Dark, jewel tone. Sapphire or emerald. Maybe dark purple. Long, to the floor at least and maybe slit up one side. It's chill enough I could go for long sleeves or else a cloak."

"And jewelry?"

"Silver with stones to match the dress. Light, nothing gaudy. Maybe just studs for the ears and a chain and pendant."

Hermione sighed wantonly. "I suppose he would be in a black tux."

"I don't know if I could control myself if I saw him in a tuxedo," Ginny confessed. "I go a little weak at the knees for men in the three piece suits."

Hermione laughed even as the door bell rang.

Ginny rose to her feet. "I'll get it."

She opened the mahogany door to the young man in delivery livery.

"Can I help you?"

He consulted his clip board. "Miss... Weasley?"

"Yes?"

He held out the clipboard. "Delivery confirmation."

Ginny hesitantly took the clipboard and signed on the appropriate line. The man took back his clipboard and handed her a large flat box. Ginny's breath caught. It was the right size for a dress or shirt.

She took the box and started to close the door but the man stopped her.

"Um...don't you want the rest Miss Weasley?"

Ginny looked up to see him holding out another four boxes. One was the size of the box in her hands while another was just bigger than a shoe box and the final two were both the size of a small hardback novel.

Hermione came into the hall to see what was taking Ginny and gaped at the boxes.

"Holy crap, Ginny!"

She took one of the long flat boxes and hustled her friend into the living room of their flat.

"What is all this?"

Ginny shook her head in wonder. "I have no idea."

Hermione gazed out at all of it. "Only one way to find out. Start with the big ones."

The first box contained a long black velvet cape, lined in pale purple. Hermione forced Ginny to try it on. They oohed and ahhed over the kinsai hood, elaborately ruffled.

The second large box held a stunning gown of dark purple, almost black silk. It lay low on Ginny's chest but still modestly so when she tried it on. It was a perfect fit. The sleeves puffed just slightly at the shoulders but were cinched tight with black strips of leather a few inches down. From there they bellowed into deep purple sheer sleeves.

In the shoebox sized box was an assortment of hair accessories and makeup. All were stunning and expensive.

One of the remaining boxes held two elbow length light purple satin gloves.

The final box had a set of amethyst stud earrings and a delicate amethyst and diamond silver necklace.

The girls were silent for a moment. Finally Hermione broke the silence.

"I think he wants you to go with him."

(a/n: ahhhh! awesome, right? Right. dying right now. Just a little bit.

To MidnightWriter: (laughs) everyone loves Princess Bride. That and the Goonies. :3 As for the Blaise/Hermione, I promise it will all make sense in time.