Chapter Nineteen: To Dance
Draco was hyperventilating for absolutely no good reason.
He had his clothes ready, he'd spent ages in the shower, the decorations were all done, the food was being prepared, the live music was on its way, and he'd paced back and forth a couple times.
Five hours until the ball!
…
Exactly at 7:30 (not so early to be disgustingly eager, but definitely not late), Draco apparated to Hermione's house and knocked on the door. He checked his hair in the doorknob, and assumed a position of casual expectancy.
"Come in," she called. "I'm almost ready."
What was the protocol for this? Did he stroll in and lounge in her sitting room? Did he wait outside the door?
Was she not wearing any- he meant, was she really not ready?
He was going in.
…
Draco closed the door quietly behind him, and surveyed Hermione's flat. It was small, but had the appearance of being spacious due to the way she'd done the rooms. He crossed to the divider between the kitchen and sitting room area- it was entirely made of bookshelves- and started to examine the books.
House Elves and their Idiosyncrasies, A Compendium of Wizarding and Muggle Law, Growing Up in a Pureblood House…
He stopped. Pureblood?
Draco pulled the book out as Hermione walked into the room, and then he forgot all about the book.
She was wearing a floor-length gown in silver, and his brain was instantly too consumed to absorb any other details.
"You look… enchanting," he said, and bowed.
…
She came closer, smiling.
"You really are one smooth talker, Mr. Malfoy," she teased. Then she noticed the book in his hand, and the blush that spread across her cheeks entranced him. "Oh, you saw that."
"I've never read it," he said, putting it back on the shelf.
"But you lived it," she answered, and then switched the subject. "Shall we go?"
"Of course," he said, bringing her hand to his lips. "I can hardly wait."
…
They arrived just before everyone else, and Hermione spun into the ballroom with childish delight.
"Oh, wow," she said. Her eyes were sparkling, and she twirled slowly in the empty ballroom, trying to fit it all in. "This is spectacular. What charm did you use for the icicles?"
Draco sighed dramatically. "Once a nerd, always a nerd," he teased, and she twirled into his chest and smirked up at him.
"But you like nerds, don't you," she purred. She was suddenly very, very close. He swallowed nervously.
The Weasley Troupe arrived just in time to save him a response.
Thank Merlin for the Weasleys.
…
People were arriving, and Draco was swept up in the whirlwind of being a charming host.
"Don't leave me alone for a second," he whispered in Hermione's ear. "Some of these old Pureblood mothers are like vultures, and then I'd be engaged without knowing it, and you'd be left alone and forlorn."
She grinned up at him "Forlorn, eh?"
"Completely," he breathed, and she tucked her arm around his waist with a smile.
And stayed there, till all the greeting was done.
…
The music started, and Draco felt a thrill of anticipation travel from his head down to his toes. He turned to Hermione with a wicked smile on his face, bowed, and asked, "May I have this dance?"
She tossed her hair. "I suppose, if you promise not to step on my toes."
"I think you should be more worried about where my hands are going to be," he purred into her ear. Hermione shrieked with laughter, and he picked her up and spun onto the dance floor.
…
And oh, how they danced! There were fast songs aplenty, and Draco had fun- yes, really, Draco had fun- spinning Hermione around, doing fantastic dips and leaps and silly, wiggling motions. He danced with her until his feet were tired and his sides hurt from laughing and his face hurt from smiling nonstop.
…
At one point, they took a break, and they watched Harry dance with Ginny and whisper in her ear. Ron made a gagging sound and turned to Draco.
"Say, who's the beauty in purple, over there?"
He was pointing at Pansy, to Draco's shock. He tried to avoid the question, not sure how Ron would take it.
"I thought you were dating Lovegood?" he asked, casually.
Ron shrugged. "She wanted to travel, and I didn't. So who's the girl?"
Draco hesitated, felt Hermione's hand tighten in his, and just gave in. "…Pansy Parkinson."
"No way!" Ron said, astonished. Then he looked back at Pansy, who was hovering awkwardly at the edge of the party with Theo and Blaise. "Do you think she'd like to dance?"
…
Pansy had been dancing with Ron, and laughing, for quite some time before Draco asked to cut in. The redhead acquiesced good-naturedly, and headed off towards the banquet tables, which he claimed were beckoning.
"You alright, then?" Draco asked. "Weasley hasn't stepped on your feet too much? You haven't caught any blood-traitor germs?"
"Stop it," she smiled, and smacked him lightly on the shoulder. "He's been very kind. Bloody Gryffindors. It's very hard to feel vindicated when they don't do anything mean."
"I know!" Draco exclaimed. "They're just so…. Sensitive."
They shared a shudder of disgust, and both laughed.
"So, you're having a good time?" he asked, hesitantly.
She looked up at him, with her implacable Pansy-face on. "Well, aside from the snubbing from some of the well-to-do Ministry folk, people are very… forgiving."
They both looked out over the crowd, spotting Hermione and Ginny in conversation with Blaise and Theo. The two boys looked slightly uncomfortable, as anyone would when backed into a corner by two war heroines, but there were little half-smiles on their faces all the same.
Pansy made a very unladylike snort. "Poor boys. They don't know whether to stare or cower."
They both laughed, and spun back into the crowd.
…
The ball was flashing by in a flurry of happy moments. Hermione's face as he threw her in the air – Pansy dancing and smiling – Harry and Ginny tucked close together – Red hair everywhere – Narcissa and Andromeda making a short speech – Hermione, her hair tickling his face when she twirled – Blaise and Theo plotting something with George - Smiling and laughing and generally feeling alive.
…
The fastest song yet was on, and Draco found himself surrounded by all his friends, surprised by their number but pleased by their company, dancing crazily and whirling from one person to the next, laughing until his sides hurt. And whenever he or Pansy or one of the others was too stiff and too formal and too afraid, the rest of the group would pitch in and spin them around until they were happy and smiling and loved.
…
Later, he'd recaptured Hermione for a slower, sweeter dance. He ignored George and Harry making exaggerated "congrats" motions in the corner, and pressed his face into her hair.
She smelled like everything he'd ever smelled in Amortentia, and he finally admitted to himself that she was exactly what he wanted from this life.
He hoped – dear Merlin, he hoped – that he would get to keep her.
…
Midnight approached, and Draco ushered everyone outside.
"To old friends and new," he said, "I wish the happiest new year."
…
When the fireworks started, he was next to Hermione, and the cheers from the crowd were suddenly background noise.
"Happy New Year," she whispered, to the accompaniment of "THREE! TWO! ONE!"
The biggest firework of all went off, all the colours of Hogwarts intertwined, and Draco didn't even stop to think, because suddenly her hands were around his shoulders and his were around her waist and he was kissing her as if he'd never have to breathe again.
She tasted amazing on his lips, on his tongue. Everything was filled with new life, new colour, and new reason to live. The fireworks on the edge of his awareness boomed, and the crowd cheered, and Draco felt his heartbeat rise to meet the noise, pounding through his skin, across his lips, and into hers, as if it was speaking everything he wanted to say.
His senses were singing, and he didn't want it to stop.
Finally, they broke apart, breathless, and Draco smiled and pulled her close, brushed his lips to her forehead, and they settled into each other to watch the fireworks end and the New Year begin.
…
A/N:
Well, it only took Draco nineteen chapters!
Hopefully, the ball was up to your expectations! It was mostly fluff :). I confess, I wrote it over a long span of time, so I hope it's not disjointed.
KodeV: Ooh, ouch. Well, hopefully the hints will stop… eventually… Draco's going to take matters into his own hands. I have a feeling that Narcissa won't rest until she has grandchildren of her own… xD. Thanks for reviewing, once again! If you smile when you read my story, I always smile when I read your reviews.
Fulgance: It looks like Draco and Hermione are headed on the way to children with great circulation! First, lunch dates and dancing, tomorrow, serious snogging! I hope you enjoy this chapter as much. Thank you!
Pug1998: No worries- thank you for reviewing! I hope you like it so far!
StarDrop5: Here, a ball. Aren't you excited? You're welcome ;) Thanks for the review!
MauraudersMischief: Wow. Thank you so much! I am thrilled that my story has had such an impact on you. And no, I'm not JKR, but I do appreciate your review! I hope that I can continue to meet your standards :D
Till next time…
-Isefyr
