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"Cause she's so high, high above me. She's so lovely."
Tal Bachman
She's So High
She was Adored
Written By Cjred - Beta: Minuet33 - Proof Reader: Guisoris -Art: Manda the Slytherin
Chapter One- The Meet Cute
Five years after the wizarding war ended, Draco Malfoy was bloody bored.
He stood off to the side of the elaborately decorated ballroom and sipped his fire whiskey with an air of detachment that made him look aloof, but thanks to his dashing good looks, he looked roguishly aloof.
His family had come out of the war a bit worse for wear, but thanks to a lot of gold, his mother lying to the Dark Lord to save Potter, and Draco Malfoy turning traitor at the last second to toss Potter back his wand; well, they were pretty much back to their prewar status in society.
It helped that Draco worked for the Ministry in the Dark Arts division of the Magical Law Enforcement Office. He put his family's library to use countering dark magic now.
Life was good, but dull.
His parents were working on a contract marriage for him to an especially pretty, if not utterly boring, witch. He was successful at his job. He could find witches willing enough most of the time if he wished.
Yes, life was good.
He paused sipping his drink as he watched a masked man in a Victorian-era pirate costume approach.
"Zabini," Draco said with a bored drawl.
Zabini raised his own glass of fire whiskey just as lazily and nodded. "Malfoy."
They both looked back out at the ballroom.
"Why the fuck did we come again?" Although his tone was abrupt, he was actually curious.
Zabini snorted. "We were promised that there would be a case of the best fire whiskey."
Draco rolled the amber liquid around in his glass and chortled, "I suppose that is true enough."
Zabini grinned and then said lazily, "And, we were told that there would possibly be a few witches here that interested us."
Draco let his cool grey gaze assess the gathered ladies in attendance and snorted. "That was obviously bullocks."
Zabini laughed and then stopped suddenly, his face transforming into surprise as he said, "Well, now, possibly not."
Draco followed his friend's gaze and froze. "Is that?"
Zabini nodded. "I do believe it is, because I would recognize the redhead with her anywhere."
Draco glanced at the petite girl standing next to the woman who had gained his attention. "The she-weasel?"
Zabini nodded, his face going dark. "Indeed, the talented terror, Miss. Ginnerva Weasley."
Draco gave his friend an evil smirk. "She rather liked harassing you on the quidditch field, mate."
Zabini's scowl grew darker. "Yes, I recall."
Draco leaned back watching the two hesitate as they made it into the room. "What are they doing here anyways?"
Zabini shrugged and then said slowly, "My guess would be that our host is attempting to cozy up to someone in the ministry, Granger of course is doing rather well in her position there."
Draco's eyes moved back to the woman in the pale pink gown, had her waist always been that tiny?
And since when had her hair gotten that long?
She had on a gold mask that made her hair burn like copper.
She was fetching, he would give her that.
Her friend was in a dark blue gown that made her hair look like fire.
Her mask was silver and black and she had a display of black feathers at her waist.
Her hair was curled in artful ringlets all the way down her back, while her companion had let her hair fall in what he supposed were her natural curls; they looked different tonight.
Draco watched as wizards flocked to the two newcomers and grunted, "Well that didn't take long; they will be the shiny new toys."
Zabini grinned, setting down his glass on the table beside him. "Unless of course, someone makes a claim."
Draco gave his friend a long look. "Well, that's taking your life in your hands, mate. She hates you and is dating the scar-headed savior of the world."
Zabini shrugged clearly unconcerned. "When has something as minuscule as that ever stopped me before?"
Draco chuckled and watched Zabini move towards the women, who were now separated by their admirers.
Draco noticed that he knew all of Hermione's fawning gits.
Most surprisingly he saw Montague, Nott, and about five other pureblood arses who wouldn't have looked at her twice a few years ago.
Draco downed his fire whiskey and set it down on a tray that floated by.
Well, times were different now.
Filthy, little muggle-borns were not so filthy when they looked like Granger, had an intellect that left you a bit breathless and were part of the golden trio that had saved the wizarding world.
Everyone adored little Miss Granger now, as they bloody well should.
He shuddered to think what the world would be like if it hadn't been for her brains and the scar-head's stupid bravery.
Draco leaned back against the wall watching them all make fools of themselves.
He had to admit, she was one of the prettiest witches in the room, but this was a bit out of control.
When Goyle showed up to make a fool of himself, Draco had to intervene.
They were going to smother her for Merlin's sake.
OooOoooO
Hermione was trying very hard to not reach into the charmed little bag on her wrist, pull out her wand, and hex the lot of these total prats trying to trample her.
Where in the blazes was Ginny?
She turned her head curiously and then sighed as she saw that her friend was dancing with a very handsome pirate, who looked a bit familiar.
Hermione paused but was distracted by someone trying to grab her hand.
"Oy, keep your paws to yourself, you git!"
Hermione sighed, she knew that voice very well.
That would be Nott, Theo Nott, whom she had gone to school with and now worked with.
He was currently the most aggressive little bugger, which was surprising as he was usually rather charming.
Tonight, however, it would seem that Theo Nott had been in his cups.
She tried to step back but there was a very large man behind her who she was afraid she recognized too.
He was leering at her.
Good grief, was that Goyle? She almost socked him on principle alone. How very childish of her.
When Goyle and another man started to shove each other, Hermione finally decided that she would simply have to find a way out of this little circle of prats before they ended up hurting her with their displays of manliness.
Honestly, men were idiots!
Suddenly, someone grasped her hand and she looked up into laughing grey eyes, behind a silver mask, that were almost hypnotizing.
He deftly extracted her from the current shoving match and then swept her out onto the dance floor.
She only had a view of his shoulders right now, which were broad and encased in an exceptionally well-tailored Tudor costume.
She peeked up at him again and then gasped.
His grey eyes, which she had first seen behind the mask, his chin; she knew who was dancing with her.
"Malfoy!"
The man in question tilted his head down and smirked at her and then said mockingly, "Granger."
Hermione felt her head spin a bit, partly because he had spun her on the dance floor and partly because Draco Malfoy was dancing with her.
Touching her!
Merlin, how did that happen?
"Did you not recognize me?" She asked, trying to pull her hand out of his.
He held onto it though and smirked again. "Not recognize you? Granger, who would not recognize that hair?"
She rolled her eyes, ah yes, here came the insults.
She stepped back so that she could better see his face, or at least whatever wasn't covered by the mask.
"Yes, well," She said, gesturing her head towards the men. "I don't think one of them did. They kept asking for my name while I tried to skirt away from them."
She watched as amusement flashed across his face and then he said slowly, "Well, they are a bunch of idiots." He paused in thought and then said with a laugh, "And Nott is pissed and will send you an apology owl tomorrow I am sure."
Hermione found herself laughing in agreement. "Was that really Gregory Goyle behind me?"
Draco Malfoy nodded, his face back to its carefully blank facade of disdain.
He had such a good resting bastard face; she honestly wished she could get that technique down.
She always looked inquisitive and friendly, which meant everyone talked to her.
Which wouldn't be a problem really except she sometimes just wished she could be left alone!
"I wish I could perfect that face you do, Malfoy," She said wistfully.
He looked confused for a moment. "What face?"
She shook her head. "I call it your 'resting bastard' face. It's perfectly wonderful. You don't look angry, but you don't look like you would welcome being approached either. It's almost like you are saying: if you are going to speak to me, make it worth my bloody time!"
Draco threw back his head laughing and then nodded. "Well, that's exactly what I am thinking. Try thinking that and see if it works."
Hermione grinned and then peeked around his shoulders to see if she could find Ginny.
"Who are you looking for?" He asked, his tone a bit harsh.
Hermione glanced at him in surprise and shrugged. "Ginny. Some pirate danced off with her."
She watched as Draco smirked before his face went back to its resting position again and he said calmly, "Well, she's probably on his ship then and lost forever."
Hermione's eyes widened. "I don't know if I should laugh or be worried."
The blasted man gave her a one-shouldered shrug. "Oh, worried, definitely."
Then his hands tightened on her hand and waist and he danced her towards a patio.
She felt her heart rate triple. "And what exactly are you doing?"
Draco grinned. "Being a brilliant wingman and making sure you are distracted."
Hermione was about to tell him off when suddenly she was out on the patio and the door was swinging shut.
Before she could even squeak, the most amazing thing happened.
Draco Malfoy had pushed her against the wall and was kissing her, and not just a polite peck, he was really, truly kissing her.
This was the type of kiss you read about in stories.
A kiss that curled your toes and left you with tingles.
This was the type of kiss Hermione had not had in a very long time.
She should protest, and she would, in a minute.
Author Notes:
September 12, 2024
To my Fanfic Peeps - Here we are again, after all this time. I have missed you!
I am so excited, nervous, and happy to be back here with you.
Thank you for returning to my new fic and always being kind and generous with your time.
To any new readers - Welcome to the fun! Thank you for taking the chance on a WIP and a new author to you. It is truly appreciated.
I started this fic sometime in 2017 - after open heart surgery and before Riddle This.
I have a vivid memory of writing the first few chapters.
It is amazing to be sharing this with y'all so many years later.
I am about 30k words into the story, but as always with one of my WIPs - chapters are added and the end is not defined yet.
Your feedback, comments, and my muse just - breathe inspiration as we go. So, from this point forward, anything can happen, and I just go with it.
I expect this fic to be around 50k-70k words.
I hope to update weekly or bi-weekly.
Oh my word, we are doing this!
Cheers,
Cjean
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