It was Draco's eleventh birthday, and it was the most extravagant sight that Hermione had ever seen. And she'd seen Pansy's ball a few months before. She had thought that was excessive. Pansy had worn the biggest dress that she could fit into.
Hermione and her parents sometimes thought that it was ridiculous just how much money these families had. Not that they worked much. Most everything was inherited. Which just made it all the more impressive.
Hermione stood in the ballroom which was decorated in silver and gold. A strange combination for the middle of June. Hermione had always associated that with Christmas. Mostly because people put gold balls and silver tinsel on trees.
She herself was wearing a bright green dress. Mrs. Malfoy had said that it brought out her eyes. Hermione, who had dark brown eyes, thought that was ridiculous. But she wasn't about to argue with Mrs. Malfoy. Especially when she saw how lovely the dress was.
It was simpler than most of the dresses of the other girls. Pansy was wearing a very puffy pastel pink dress that made her skin look slightly sallow. Daphne was in an equally large gown, but it was a flattering shade of bright blue that brought out her eyes.
Hermione's dress was flowy, but not billowing. It draped around her form almost reminiscent of a Greek goddess. It wasn't draped in the same fashion as a chiton, but there was something in the gentle pleats of the fabric that invoked the imagery. And the way she carried herself suggested power.
"You look lovely," Draco said.
She smacked him lightly on the arm. "Don't scare me like that."
Draco laughed. "It's too easy. Especially at events like this. You get so wrapped up in your own head that anyone could talk to you and you wouldn't notice until halfway through the second sentence."
Hermione wanted to argue with that. But she found that it was very difficult. She did have a tendency to freeze up at the more formal events that the purebloods held. But it was because she wound up comparing herself to Daphne and Pansy. Even if Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy liked her better.
But she was far more comfortable on a broom competing against Blaise and Theo than she was in a dress in a ballroom. And part of it had to do with the fact that she knew, even after years of being friends with everyone and learning as much as she could, a lot less about wizarding culture than they did. And that wasn't even the high society aspects of it.
And in their year the only other girl who was invited to the soiree was Millicent Bulstrode. Or, she was the only one who had accepted. But, even though everyone had accepted Hermione, it was still sometimes difficult for some of the parents to get along with everyone.
Hermione had heard rumors that the Longbottoms and the Abbots had declined their invitations. As had Susan Bones' aunt. But no one could blame any of them. Long lasting disagreements, especially when formed in childhood, were difficult to break.
"Where are Theo and Blaise?" she asked.
Draco looked up and scanned the room. "Oh no," he groaned.
"Oh no what?" Hermione asked dubiously. "What happened?"
"Blaise and Theo," Draco said. "You remember what happened when they disappeared at Pansy's party."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "They're your best friends. And even I think your mother's the scariest person when she's upset. They wouldn't dare ruin her party."
"I thought it was my party," Draco sulked.
Hermione laughed, attempting to stifle the giggles into her hand. Sometimes things just seemed so obvious to her. Apparently they weren't to Draco.
"It might be your birthday. But the party is for her. If you were in charge it would have way more quidditch."
It was very true. Draco loved quidditch. More than just about anything. And he might have included some other sports too, such as rugby, if it was an option. But it wasn't. His party was far too formal for anything of that nature.
"True. Wait." He paused, thoughtful expression on his face. "If you were a quidditch crazy eleven year old boy where would you go?"
Some of the colour drained from Hermione's face. She was fairly fond of quidditch. Mostly because she liked to play. But she wasn't a fan of the idea of Blaise and Theo starting a game amongst themselves with no regards to the fact that they were supposed to be at a ball.
She walked with purpose to the long windows in the ballroom. They overlooked the grounds, which were magnificent. She walked quickly, but was careful to keep her pace slow enough so as not to draw attention.
She looked out, and only saw green grass and the trees on the estate. Nothing was out of the ordinary. And she was certain that she would see something if the boys had managed to break into the broom shed successfully.
They would most likely be flying circles around. At least it would be better than the cake they dumped on Pansy at her party. A small smile crept onto Hermione's face at the memory. Though she had felt slightly sorry for Pansy, it had been funny.
There was a slight clatter and a butler figure, whom Hermione had never seen before, was dragging Blaise and Theo in by their ears. Both boys winced and fought against the pressure. Neither had much success.
"I found these two trying to sneak the cake away from the kitchen," he said. "You might do well to keep an eye on them."
He left, and Narcissa waived her wand over the doors. It was a complicated pattern. Hermione didn't know what she was doing, but she could feel the pull of the magic as it wound through her. She suspected that it was having a similar effect on Draco.
"Do you suppose that quidditch is now out of the question?" Draco asked.
Hermione laughed. Of course, Draco would be concerned that his favourite sport wouldn't be an option. Of course.
"I think that no one's going to be allowed out of the ballroom until it's time to go home," she said.
"Not even to go to the bathroom?"
Hermione shook her head. She was trying to keep mirth out of her voice. It wasn't working as well as she might have hoped. "I think you might need a parent to go with you."
Draco deflated a little. "How am I ever supposed to go sneak on the presents now?" he pouted.
Hermione chuckled, and then stifled it as fast as she could. "I think that you wouldn't be able to do that even if there weren't spells on the ballroom doors."
"And?" Draco asked. "Now I can't even try. And I'd been getting closer to being able to actually sneak into that room."
"I think that might have something to do with it," Hermione muttered to herself.
"What?" Draco asked.
"Nothing," Hermione said quickly. It was obviously not nothing, but he couldn't prove otherwise.
"If you say so," Draco mumbled. "But still. How could Blaise and Theo do this?"
"Do what?" Blaise asked.
"Draco's mad that you two made it so that he can't try to sneak into whatever place his parents have hidden his presents. As if they'd let him open them while something this fancy is going on," Hermione said.
She shook her head. It was the same with all the other pureblood galas she'd been going to. No one was allowed to open gifts while at a ball. They were all put to the side. And knowing Draco's impulsiveness, it seemed like a good idea that gifts were locked up and warded.
"Well, we did find out that there are two cakes," Theo said. "Don't know what the second one's for."
Draco and Hermione looked at each other. They had a suspicion. But they weren't going to share that with anyone. Not until their parents told them to. And that probably wouldn't be until their third or fourth year.
"Do you think we'll get a slice of both?" Draco asked.
Hermione shrugged. "I think you will, but I couldn't say what the second cake is for."
"Eating?" Theo said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Of course, Theo," Draco said. "When are you free next week? I want to play quidditch."
"Why not later today?" Blaise asked.
"Because somebody," Draco glared at Blaise, "decided that he needed to sneak into the kitchens. And now my mother's gone and sealed us in here."
Blaise glanced down at his shoes. "Sorry," he muttered.
Hermione patted his arm gently. "It's okay. We'll just have to do it later. And let Draco sulk."
"I am not sulking."
"Of course not," Hermione said innocently. "You just happen to be a little disappointed that you can't play quidditch today."
"A little. We can always play rugby at your parties," Draco grumbled.
"You guys are going to be at Hogwarts when my birthday comes this year," Hermione said.
"Right." Blaise and Theo shared a glance and then looked at the floor bashfully.
Draco raised an eyebrow at her. He knew that she would be going to Hogwarts that year. She knew that she would be going to Hogwarts that year. But they hadn't shared that. And it would have been fine for Theo and Blaise to know.
Fine for them to know what was going on, if they weren't aware of the reason behind it. Theo and Blaise were incapable of keeping a secret. Unless it was one concerning a prank, but even that was a little dubious. They had a horrible habit of snickering.
"I think it's time for cake," Narcissa Malfoy called from the center of the room.
Everything stopped as the doors to the ballroom opened and in were wheeled two of the largest cakes that Hermione had ever seen. She knew that they had to be structurally supported with magic. There was no way they could have stayed upright otherwise.
"And before we cut the cake, I have a small announcement," Mrs. Malfoy continued. "Hermione, dear, I have a letter for you."
It was exactly the sort of letter that Hermione had received earlier. But it was a lot more formal. She broke the seal on the back hesitantly and opened it. She managed to keep her nerves under control, but mostly because she had an idea of what to expect.
"What does it say?" Daphne asked.
"I get to go to Hogwarts with you guys," she whispered.
"Now that's something worth cake," Theo said.
A/N: Now I know I haven't updated in a while. I've had the worst migraine ever. At least, I think it is. Writing is a little hard at the moment.