The Hogwarts' famous bookworm apparently was a fascinating book herself. The speechless purebloods were unable to wrap their minds around Hermione Granger. After 4 years they thought they had her pegged as a boring, ugly, over-eager, common, muggleborn that was a freak accident of brilliant. The only other explanation some of them were able to grasp and held desperately onto was that she was a half-blood and didn't know it because she was adopted. That hope was very low to the ground in the Slytherin common room.
Tonight she was stunningly beautiful, she was on the arm of the Durmstrang tri-wizard champion who just so happened to be a famous and elite wizard, and she was holding herself as though she were used to balls and high society functions like this. She either practiced extremely hard or she was used to high society functions.
While the Hogwarts students were in a buzz, the Beauxbatons students were less so. Although some of them were all in a titter over the beautiful young witch, the veela a mix of pleasurably being outshined and irked that some regular witch from this awful school was the center of attention. The castle's walls were substandard than what they were used to.
It was less aesthetically pleasing, colder, the food was greasier, and some of the students were simply disgusted by some of their ghosts (mostly peeves).
Champion Fleur Delacour was simply one of the most vocal of them. However because she was a champion she was intimidating to a majority of the male population and simply the idea of talking to her was daunting. She was beautiful and part veela, common knowledge.
Obtaining a date for the Yule ball was harder than most people would think. The males of her own school were all shot down in earlier years so none of them bothered to approach her, even though they still shot her wistful glances leading up to the ball. The males of the Durmstrang school apparently stood clear of any witch that had veela blood, which was concerning for some of them, but many did not give it a second thought.
The males of Hogwarts were a delightful (and not so) mix of reactions. Some asked, some were wistful and never bucked up the courage, or in Ronald's case: he asked and ran. The only one who bothered to ask Fleur was Roger Davis. Fleur asked Cedric first, and the charming wizard turned her down for his girlfriend, which she understood and respected. Yet while Davis's attention was flattering, she also knew he was half listening. The poor wizard was to busy being dazed by her allure to really take anything in and it was frankly disgusting.
A strong wizard would not fall for her allure, and yet here she was stranded with one. Most of the witches also fell for her allure, however with sexually straight witches it made them hate her instead of like her. Strong witches, like strong wizards, were unaffected either way.
Sadly Fleur was also a woman with needs, and having someone be attentive to them was a need. She knew she would probably regret it later, but she grabbed Davis by the hand and suggested how she would like a walk in their rose garden.
"Roger, would oo be 'as so kind 'as to walk me z'rough ze jardín, s'il vous plait?"
With that, they left the hall, Roger nearly dragging the quarter veela.
While they were giving the youngest son Weasely the cold shoulder, speaking politely around him, his swotty brother misconstrued it, almost vibrating with contentment. It seemed as though another Weasley was rubbing elbows with important people and was trying to make something of himself one day.
He strutted over and took a seat next to his brother smiling at Viktor. He leaned in close to his brother, trying to keep his voice low so as not to be heard.
"Made friends with Viktor Krum, have you, Ron?" he said chuckling pompously.
"Excellent! That's the whole point of this tournament you know– international magical cooperation!"
It didn't take him a moment longer however to notice his other twin brothers accosting Ludo Bagman. The senior Ministry obviously said something to appease them since he made a quick getaway, else they would have bantered a while longer, double teaming the wizard until they got what they wanted.
Percy of course wouldn't see it that way, and began to apologize as soon as the elder wizard came over, who obviously made a beeline for Harry. The elder wizard seemed as though he tried to appease the younger wizard by letting him know he was simply just going to help his brothers with some contacts. The young presumptuous wizard didn't look pleased however, and began making work banter with the senior Ministry worker.
Ron took that moment to talk Harry into going for a walk, away from his brother. Not that Harry needed another excuse to get away from the elder Ministry worker. Hermione and Viktor also took the opportunity to get away from the elite leeches.
While the boys slunk away, the other duo rose with grace and went to stand against the wall near the refreshments.
"Your friend he seemed as though he vas jealous." Viktor said lowly, looking down at Hermione through shy glances.
"He is jealous, but I don't like him like that. I do love Ronald, but only as a brother. I just hope one day it'll sink into his very thick skull," she replied nonchalantly.
Viktor smiled at the witch, his insecurity over her settled.
"After ve finish, vould you like to dance again?" he tried to sound nonchalant, but came across as genuinely curious.
Hermione smiled brightly at him, letting her anger at the youngest Weasley boy seep into the back of her mind, "I would love to dance again, Viktor."
Viktor blushed lightly and subtly stood closer to her, their arms almost touching, drinking their butterbeers in companionable silence.
When they finished they place the empty bottles on the table, knowing the house elves would take care of it and headed back onto the dance floor. Luckily for Viktor it turned into what seemed to be another slow song.
With the confidence from the other dance still coursing through him, Viktor lead Hermione through a wonderful waltz.
"You dance quite vell, Herm-own-ni," he said softly.
"My parents made me take lessons. I do like dancing. I'm happy that I was able to take the lessons so I don't look silly at events like these."
"You like lessons of all kind?" he asked genuinely interested.
Hermione laughed, "Not of all kind, but most, yes. Knowledge is power. And when you know something, or know how to do something, it's more fun than if you didn't know. Like dancing."
Viktor smiled and nodded his agreement. He was sure that if he took more dancing lessons and knew how to dance like he knew how to fly, it would be more enjoyable.
When the song ended, they left the dance floor so Viktor could take another breather. His face was flushed, but he looked happy. It was turning out to be a wonderful night after all. He was with a witch that he liked, he was with a witch who liked him, and he hadn't stepped on her feet once.
It was just then that Fleur came up to them, her lips kiss swollen, but her eyes were rimmed red. She looked like she wanted to ask Viktor a question, but was still shaken up from what they were unsure.
"May we help you Miss Delacour?" Hermione asked politely. She had nothing against the part veela witch personally, but she did dislike how he had nothing nice to say about her beloved school.
"I...I" she took a, what seemed to be, a calming breath, "I waz 'oping zat oo would dance wiz me. Somezing… almost… 'appened, and… and I am in need of 'elp. I would go to my 'eadmistress or 'is 'eadmaster, but eet eez too… personal. S'il vous plait, Viktor. May I borrow your date?"
Viktor looked uncomfortable, having read between the lines but nodded, "You have to ask Herm-own-ni yourself. Herm-own-ni Granger is my date."
Hermione thankfully also read between the lines and her heart almost plummeted into her stomach. While she knew that students couldn't get pregnant on school grounds, she wasn't sure about rape. She understood the want to go to an adult in a situation like that, but since nothing happened and there was no proof beyond looking kissed, there was nothing they could do beyond causing a scene and making empty promises. She may not like the witch for her rudeness, but she didn't hate the witch.
"'erm-own-ni Granger-"
"Hermione Granger." The correct was automatic.
The blond nodded in deference.
"'ermionee Granger, may I pleeze 'ave zis dance?", her words were confident while her body language showed that she was afraid of rejection.
Hermione smiled at the witch, the dots connecting, "Mais oui."
Fleur might be beautiful but she must have suffered the same estrangement as the "ugly" girls as Ron had called them. It was the fear of rejection for being "out of her league" as most people would say, so they didn't bother.
The blond witch flashed a bewitching smile at the younger witch and held her hand out to her. Hermione smiled back and delicately placed her hand in the willowy witch's and allowed the taller witch to lead her out onto the dancefloor. As she was being lead she turned around and flashed a smile at Viktor, and his smiled back, happy that the witch was at least going to be dancing with someone with more advance lessons in dancing.
As they got onto the floor, they gathered the eye of quite a few people, which both witches deftly ignored. Fleur artfully scanned the crowd of faces for her date, and found him quickly, he had a red handprint and a few scratches on his face. Hermione quickly followed her gaze, and stood up straighter and her walk was more purposeful, unknowingly giving her the gait of royalty.
The band began to surprisingly play a tango song, something that made Hermione's heart beat a little faster with anticipation. It wasn't often that she got to tango and even harder to find a partner who was able to tango well. She saw the floor mostly clear out, but saw a few troopers on the edges trying to avoid gazes so they could dance. It was obvious that they wanted to dance but were too insecure with their footwork.
Amusingly there were a few Beauxbaton students that were scattered more on the dancefloor than the few pureblood Hogwarts students on the edges. Only 3 other girls were from Hogwarts and only one was from Slytherin. What was also surprising was that there were no Durmstrang students willing to tangle with tango.
Surprisingly, or rather unsurprisingly, Fleur lead Hermione to the center of the dancefloor. Hermione quickly took her wand and did some quick alterations to her dress robes and slip, giving them even slits on both sides that ended mid-thigh. Fleur eyed the younger witch approvingly before doing the same for herself, but on her left side and made the slit higher, starting at her hip.
Hermione mentally nodded at the blonde's choice, considering how her silver-gray robes were fitted, but flowed for movement. One strap was larger than the other in an ornate flower design that followed the top of her dress robes, but at a distance would seem like a one shoulder robe.
Fleur smiled teasingly at the younger witch and asked, "Etes-vous une femme fatale? "
"Pour la nuit, "Hermione said humorously.
Once they finished they quickly put their wands away again, and turned grasping each other. One of their hands was clasped with the other's and held at level with Fleur's shoulder while the other was in the middle of their partner's back with their arm wrapped securely around their partner's waist.
They started lightly with the music, their legs interweaving as Fleur lead the brunette witch. They smiled at each other, pleased with the other's obvious experience. The blonde witch quickly became curious and the next step turned the little witch around moving her hand to Hermione's lower abdomen, and slid to the right, dragging the compliant witch with her, their hands clasped together. The blonde's long slender leg peeped from the dress during the drag, as Hermione's dress flowed off her legs, while her hand had moved up being lightly placed on the veela's neck.
Hermione smiled to herself, glad to know that she would actually be able to have fun tonight. It was all good and fun having fun with your friends and your date. It was better when you got to really dance and have fun. It was like magic, being able to use your magic in class was fun, but being able to use it outside of class was better.
The band noticed that they had actual dancers, their attention having been caught by the young witches' legs on display. They decided to change the mood of the tango and the music became low and sensual, their cello player taking the lead.
The girls took keen notice to the change in the music, as they were slowly coming up from the dip the slide caused.
"Let's knock 'em dead." Hermione whispered, her head resting on the blonde's chest.
"Oui." Fleur responded huskily.
Jardin- Garden
S'il vous plait- If you please (Basically: Please)
Mais oui- Of course! (Literally: But yes)
Oui- Yes
Etes-vous une femme fatale- Are you a femme fatal? (dangerous woman)
Pour la nuit- For the night