17 July, Saturday, 1845 BST
Hermione had squeezed the eleven-inch vine wood wand. The replacement wand had felt just as comfortable as her old vine wood one had. She blew out a breath. 'Here goes nothing,' she thought as she waved her wand concentrating on the large estate in Wiltshire.
o-o-o
She had remained at work fifteen minutes longer than she had expected. She walked quickly home and jumped immediately into the shower. She had several moments where the thought of skipping the function had entered her thoughts. Then Harry's voice kept replaying as she stood in front of her closet, "The Wizarding World is trying to heal itself." She rolled her eyes.
"Damn it," she said under her breath as she pulled the most formal evening wear she owned, a Muggle long burgundy silk evening gown. It was of the sleeveless variety, with one wide strap that pulled from under the right breast and went over the left shoulder where it hung down the back. The slit on her right side was at a respectable mid thigh height. It was simple yet elegant. She pulled out the three inch high-heeled shoes that matched the color of the dress perfectly. She had worn them but two times before, not because they weren't comfortable for they were, but because there wasn't an actual occasion that was right for her to wear them. This may just have been the right occasion.
She had no formal Wizarding robes. She stopped shopping in the Wizarding World after deciding to concentrate on her Muggle life.
'There was no way they would let her into Malfoy Manor,' she thought looking at herself in the mirror. She quickly ran a hairbrush through her hair placing half of it into a ponytail while allowing the rest to fall over her shoulders. She ran the lipstick tip over her lips painting them a deep shade of dark red, almost crimson.
'Last chance to back out,' she thought to herself as she took one last look in the mirror. She looked at her wristwatch. She laughed to herself. The Timex digital watch was fine in the emergency room, but was quite out of place as part of her ensemble. 'Too bad,' she thought. 'I don't want to stay longer than I need to.' She grabbed her beaded purse, expanded to accommodate the length of her new wand. She was off.
o-o-o
She handed her invitation to the wizard at the door who studied the piece closely. He eyed her for a moment before nodding at her, allowing her entrance. The greeter at the door offered to assist her to her seat. She kindly nodded at him.
Everyone in the ballroom seemed to take in a collective breath as she entered. 'Oh, please seat me on the periphery,' she begged silently.
The wizard stopped near the front of the stage area at seemingly one of the main tables. She nodded at Harry who stood up. He pulled the seat out to the right of his own. Ginny greeted her with a hug before she sat down.
"The emergency room was crazy tonight," she said to the rest of the occupants of the table. She nodded towards Draco who returned her nod with a smile.
"You must be starving," Harry said as he nodded at the now full plate in front of her.
The rest of the table continued to tuck in as she started to eat her dinner. The rest of the ballroom seemed to pick up where they left off in their conversations.
To her right sat Kellen Tanner, the former dark skinned Slytherin Quidditch goalkeeper from her year. He was a few inches shorter than Draco and just slightly less intimidating. Roxanne Schield, the blonde blue-eyed former Slytherin turned fashion model sat in between Kellen and her long time beau, Draco. The blonde Slytherin prince periodically looked up to see Hermione engaged in amicable conversation with his former Slytherin Housemate. Draco hid his disappointment by nodding at his parents as they chatted about Ministry business.
o-o-o
17 July, Saturday, 2005 BST
Kingsley Shacklebolt, the Minister of Magic, made his way to the stage as guests were enjoying their dessert and evening coffee and tea service. Hermione had opted for hot tea. She took a sip, trying not to notice Roxanne leaning into Draco's chest; practically sitting in his lap.
The tall hulking minister thanked the crowd for the grand applause. He held up his palms quieting the crowd. Hermione sat forward in her seat.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I would just like to start by welcoming all of you to the festivities tonight. We have all been witness to the highs and lows that the Wizarding World has experienced over the past decade," Minister Shacklebolt began diplomatically, as the room was a mixture of former Death Eaters and those that sided with the Light.
"We have also been fortunate enough to also witness the positive changes within the past few months with the end of the war," he continued.
The whole ballroom seemed to hold a collective breath. "To mend relationships amongst our people, we have made every effort to recognize the constructive accomplishments by brave witches and wizards trying to do the right thing.
"Tonight we honor some of them," he said as some of the event's organizers finished setting up the awards table. "If our honorees would please come to the stage as I call you."
Hermione had seen the list of honorees from the invitation. It had been quite a list of notable witches and wizards from several generations. She listened as the Minister gave a short introduction for each witch and wizard he called up to the stage to accept his or her medal.
Hermione watched as the Minister shook hands with Harry after giving such a rousing introduction. The crowd in the ballroom gave her old friend a standing ovation.
She held her breath as she heard the rather long introduction for herself. She walked up to the stage even before Kingsley had finished. Hermione could feel her ears burning with embarrassment. Harry smiled at her after she received her medal from the Minister. The scarred wizard shook her hand as she came to stand right next to him, trying to blend into the background with the other honorees. She wished Kingsley would quickly finish his spiel on her.
The applause finally ended. Minister Shacklebolt began to introduce the last honoree. The platinum blonde wizard took in a breath as the Minister introduced the former Slytherin Quidditch seeker. The whole ballroom rose as the applause deafened. Draco shook hands with the Minister. He nodded at Hermione and Harry before waving at the crowd.
The Minister clapped along with the other guests. He shook hands with all sixteen honorees again before addressing the crowd. The honorees were assisted back to their tables.
"Ladies and gentlemen, our honorees again," he said as he indicated towards the witches and wizards as they headed back to their seats. The guests again gave a round of applause.
"Now maestro," he addressed the band's lead singer, "If you wouldn't mind setting the mood. I think our guests would like to dance."
o-o-o
17 July, Saturday, 2030 BST
The band began to play. As hosts, Mr. Lucius and Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy were the first on the dance floor. Roxanne led Draco to the dance floor moments later. Hermione smiled to herself amused yet sympathetic at the helplessness Draco was experiencing.
Neville Longbottom, the tall former Gryffindor turned Hogwarts Herbology teacher, was the first to ask Hermione to dance. Often described as clumsy, at just about everything, Neville was quite light on his feet on the dance floor.
Hermione was actually having a nice time. Her dance partners provided lovely conversation; which truly meant the Wizarding World was on its way to "healing itself." Blaise Zabini, an employee with the Ministry's Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, was always very condescending towards Hermione.
Tonight, he had actually congratulated her on her award. They shared a couple of amusing moments as they talked about Hogwarts. He and Pansy Parkinson, an inspector with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, were to marry during the Winter Holidays, after Christmas, of course. Hermione had congratulated both of her former classmates as Pansy had asked to cut into the dance.
The former Slytherin had been lying in wait as Blaise and Pansy waltzed off. Hermione turned just as the tall Slytherin goalkeeper extended his hand to her. She accepted it gingerly. He had heard of what Kellen Tanner had done during the war and she was of course wary of him.
Nonetheless, she decided to dance with him. She had to take in a deep breath. He had brought her in so close that his chest pressed against hers. She looked up into the tall Slytherin's hazel eyes. She had a feeling this dance wasn't going to be very cordial.
"You're quite interestingly dressed, Ms. Granger," he said as he ran his hand down the length of her back. He watched her take in a breath.
She diplomatically grabbed his snaking arm and placed it on her hip. She smiled at the dark brown haired tall wizard. "You look quite dashing yourself, Kellen," she said tactfully.
"So the rumor mill has you and Draco being on friendly terms, Hermione," the Department of Mysteries employee raised his eyebrow.
Hermione could feel her ears starting to warm. She didn't like the way his line of questioning was going. "We've grown civil with each other if that's what you mean," she said as he turned her again on the dance floor. She winced a little as he tightened his grip on her palm.
He pulled her in tighter to his chest. He smirked at her, "Friends with benefits?"
Hermione stopped dancing, as she looked straight into his eyes. "I don't like what you're implying, Kellen."
He smirked again as he forced her to keep time with him. "The talk around the town has you in bed with your former enemy."
"The rumor mill, as always, is what it is," she said shutting her eyes. "There's no truth in it."
He grinned at her. "Really, Hermione?"
"Draco is seeing," she paused. "He's dating Roxanne. Even I know that."
"Of course," he nodded at her. "Why would he dirty himself with filth like you?"
She clenched her teeth for a moment. "That type of thinking is antiquated. There's no real difference between witches like me and wizards like you."
"That's where you're wrong, Mudblood," Kellen whispered into her ear. "You might have persuaded Draco to turn on his brethren for the time being. But I assure you; he'll return to his faculties and see you for who you really are."
She pried her palm out of his grasp just as the music died down and the singer addressed the crowd on the dance floor. A new number started to play as Hermione walked away from her dance partner. The former Slytherin goalkeeper narrowed his eyes at her as she walked off.
o-o-o
Hermione found herself on the open balcony overlooking the vast backyard of the Manor. She breathed in the night air. She looked up into the night sky before looking at her watch. It was almost 10 p.m. She should have left an hour ago when things were a little less hairy. She pulled the eleven-inch stick from her purse.
She heard the slow music drift in from behind her. She had to blink quickly to quell the tears that were brimming. She took another deep breath as she realized that there was someone standing behind her. She quickly wiped at her eyes before turning around.
"Hi," she said softly as she replaced her wand into her purse.
The platinum blonde smiled at her. "Hi, yourself," he said. "I thought I had missed you."
She shrugged her shoulders, "I just needed some air."
"I didn't get a chance to cut in on any of the songs," he smirked. "I saw you and Kellen a bit … close."
"Yeah, a bit too close," she shrugged as he took a step forward. She gulped, pointing to the dance floor as she changed the subject. "I think you and Roxanne make a beautiful couple."
He laughed. "So, it seems, does every other person in that room. Mum and dad seem to think so as well," he shrugged. "So is the life of a Pure-blood bachelor, right."
She laughed. He extended his hand. She looked down at it for a moment.
"May I have this dance?" he asked, smiling.
"I figured your dance card was full," she said looking back at the ballroom. She hesitated before gently taking his hand. He pulled her into his chest as he danced with her on the balcony.
"I never got the chance to tell you how beautiful you look tonight," he said as he caught her eyes.
"I'm sure you say that to all your dance partners," she said, almost holding her breath.
He laughed. "You don't take compliments well, do you?"
She joined in as he turned her. "You look handsome as well."
They danced in silence for the rest of the number. Draco held her close, breathing her in.
Hermione took a step back out of his embrace as the number ended. She gave him a weak smile. She looked at her watch, 10 p.m. She pulled her wand out of her purse. Draco studied her for a moment.
"It's been a long day," she said. "I should head home."
"I'll take you home," he said, taking his wand out as well.
"Draco," she smiled. "I'll be fine. Besides, you yourself said I should put my wand into practice."
He laughed. "Still."
"Draco, really, I can handle myself," she said, twirling her wand in her hand.
"I don't doubt that," he said, shrugging his shoulders before replacing his wand into his jacket. "You're the last person I'd ever want to duel, with wand or in your Muggle hand-to-hand combat."
"You're incorrigible," she said.
"You sure you'll be all right?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
She nodded. He smiled at her as he nodded back. He watched her disapperate. He sighed. He had wished he had been able to have had danced another number with her. He went back into the ballroom.
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