Chapter Nine
"Sod off, Potter!"
"No! I'm here to see Hermione and I'm not leaving until I do!"
"Get out of my common room!"
"No!"
I was awakened by loud, angry voices. I groaned as I sat up in bed and rubbed my sleepy eyes. This had better be worth it. I walked out to the common room, angry at being woken before I was ready to crawl out of bed on a Saturday morning.
"Harry James Potter. What the bloody hell do you want at eight in the morning on a Saturday?" I growled as I crossed my arms over my chest.
"Bloody hell, woman. I forgot how grouchy you are in the mornings." He muttered at he took in my sleepy state.
"What do you want?" I asked again with a glare, "I do not take kindly to being woken by yelling matches this early. It looks as if Draco just rolled out of bed, too, actually. To what do we owe the visit?"
"Draco?" Harry questioned incredulously
"Yes, Harry. His name is Draco." I explained impatiently
"Right. Well, I've been hearing some pretty nasty rumors and I came to find out the truth since we hardly see you anymore. Ron's not taking that so well, actually. But that's a whole other matter. So, I see no need to beat around the bush, so I'll just come out with it, I guess. Are you two shagging?" Harry said bluntly
I froze, mid-yawn, and then began to sputter. When I managed to breathe normally again, I looked at Harry with a blank look on my face, "Where in Merlin's name did you get that from?"
"Well, you know how it is in the common room.." Harry trailed off awkwardly
"So, Lavender is spreading rumors again?" I allowed an icy quality into my voice
Harry reached up to run a hand through his messy hair with a guilty look crossing his features.
"Harry, you know how she is! You know that everything out of her mouth is a lie! What Ron sees in her, I'll never understand."
"I know, 'Mione, but you've been so distant this year. We don't know what to think anymore. Do we even know you still?" Harry said quietly
"Of course you do. I'm still the same old me. Know-it-all and bookworm. I've just had extra duties piled on this year with being Headgirl, Harry. I'm sorry I don't see you guys much anymore. I'll set aside a weekend just for us. Me, you, and Ron can all go to Hagrid's or maybe just hang out in the common room. Okay?"
Harry just nodded and apologized for waking me up before he turned and walked out of the common room. I placed my hands over my eyes and groaned quietly. I only remembered that I wasn't alone in the room when a faint chuckle reached my ears.
"You've been awfully quiet, Draco. Care to explain?" I asked frostily
"You didn't tell him no."
"What?" I asked, bewildered
"You didn't tell him no. About us shagging."
"Well, we aren't!"
"But he didn't know that. And I bet he's not as daft as he looks. He probably caught the fact that you didn't deny it." Draco said with a cheeky grin.
"Why didn't you speak up? Why didn't you deny it?"
Draco looked appalled, "And ruin my reputation? It is unheard of for Draco Malfoy to not be shagging someone."
"You're not helping your chances of shagging me any time soon." I said dryly
Draco blanched as he realized the truth in my statement, "Oh, come now, love. You wouldn't hold out on me forever would you?"
"We'll see." I said as I turned to walk back into my room, making sure the sway of my hips was much more noticeable than usual. I smiled as I heard a soft groan and a string of curses being muttered.
"You, there! If I see you near that table again, I will confiscate your wand for the rest of the night, do you hear me?" I yelled at one of the Slytherin prefects.
"Oi! Collins, do not go near the Womping Willow! We have specifically set up the perimeter so that students don't go near it! Get away and if I catch anyone heading in that direction again, I will cancel this ball, so help me Merlin!" I heard Draco yell from the other side of the courtyard.
The Halloween Ball was tonight and the Prefects were determined to deter from the plans we'd all made and agreed upon. So far I've had to stop them from spiking the punch with firewhiskey, enchanting the pumpkins to chase anyone who got within two feet of them, and sabotaging many other decorations. I'd been listening to Draco reprimanding them as well. I sighed as I looked around me. It was a decently warm day for October and the sun shining on the grounds and castle was breathtaking. We'd spent the majority of the afternoon setting up a perimeter for the dance. We had conjured some haybales to set up as a makeshift fence that could double as places to sit for the students who needed to take a breather. There were large pumpkins spaced out among the haybales and miniature pumpkins had been hollowed out and enchanted to float through the air with candles lit inside of them. There was a large tent, the front flaps tied back to show a long table filled with all kinds of cookies, cakes, candies, and punches. There were small tables scattered throughout the area, in the tent and out in the open, for students to sit at. The ghosts had been asked to attend the dance, mingle in the crowds for added effect. We were nearly finished after a good six hours of decorating. I glanced over at Draco to find him already looking at me with a small smile gracing his features.
"Are we done?" he called to me
I nodded and called all of the Prefects over to me. Draco joined me and we dismissed them to go prepare for the ball. I don't think I've seen them do as they're told until now. I shook my head and glanced around once more. I cast a quick charm to assure that no one could enter the dance area until I took down the ward. It just wouldn't do to have someone come and tamper with all of our hard work. Draco and I made our way back up to our dormitory to get ready. We were, after all, the hosts of this Halloween Ball. We had to make a huge impression on the students and Draco hadn't even written his welcome speech!
"Hermione! Are you done yet?! You've been in there for ages and we have to go! We have to go now or we'll be late!" Draco pounded on my bedroom door.
"I'm coming, I'm coming." I called back as I put the finishing swipe of lip gloss on my lips. I took one last look at myself in my vanity mirror, smiled, and walked to my bedroom door. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves, and turned the knob. I sucked in my breath as I saw Draco standing three feet in front of me. I took a good long, appreciative look at him. He wore a black suit with a silky silver shirt and an emerald green tie. The splash of green against the gray really brought out the silver in his eyes. His hair was swept gracefully across his forehead and that famous smirk was already in place. As my eyes wandered back up to his face, I noticed his eyes trailing over me. I blushed as he inspected me.
"Bloody hell, woman." He muttered appreciatively
"Do I look okay?" I asked nervously.
"You look delectable, love. I promise you that."
I smiled and looked down at my dress. I'd chosen a silver ball gown with green accents. There were glittery emerald green swirled patterns on the skirt and the bodice was bordered along the bust with green sequins. My hair was falling in ringlet curls, green ribbons had been enchanted to wind in and out of my curls. I wore simple silver flats and no jewelry. I nodded in satisfaction.
"Are we ready to go?" I asked
"Masks. Do you have yours?" Draco questioned as he pulled his mask from inside his suit jacket. It was simple; black with green glitter along the edges.
"Yes, I do, of course." I smiled lightly as I pulled my mask out from behind my back. It was emerald green with silver sequins bordering the edges and around the eyes. We slipped out masks on, grinned at each other, and headed down to the entrance hall. All of the other students were already gathered in the courtyard, just waiting for the Heads to arrive.
"Did you write your speech?" I asked hesitantly
"No." Draco responded carelessly
"Draco! Why not? What are you going to do? I mean, you can't give a speech if you haven't prepared for it! What are you going to sa—"
His lips covering mine cut off my tirade. He pulled back slowly, leaving me breathless.
"Calm down, sweets. I'm Draco Malfoy. Do you really think I need to be prepared beforehand to succeed?" he asked quietly with a small chuckle, "I've got this."
And with that, he strolled through the front doors and stood on the steps before the entire school. I came to stand beside him and looked up at him expectantly.
"Hello, everyone!" He called, "It's Halloween again, as you've all noticed. I don't have much to say. Dance. Laugh. Eat. Drink. Do not leave the perimeters and watch out for enchanted pumpkins in case we missed any. Have fun everyone! Enjoy the holiday and make some memories that you'll never forget!"
With that, he bowed and turned to me, "A dance, m'lady?"
I smiled softly and shook my head with a quiet laugh, "Draco Malfoy, whatever are we to do with you?"