Post by Iris2 on May 29, 2010 15:27:36 GMT -5
It had been two years since Hermione needed to dress up for an event and this time around, she found it an easier task. With help from Mrs. Weasley and Ginny, she’d picked out a lovely sapphire coloured dress and she knew exactly how much hair potion to use. She really did look lovely when the Portkey departed, remaining that way when it arrived as she managed to stay on her feet, only wobbling a little. A hand immediately flew to her hair, checking for anything out of place. Hermione wouldn’t have been so concerned about her appearance if she wasn’t already to nervous for this whole affair. Being a Muggleborn at something like this was enough, but she was also Ron’s date.
“Shoo- Shoo!” He said waving his freckled hands and trying to get it to go away.
She glanced at Ron, who looked much better than he had at the Yule Ball, and noticed the peacocks for the first time as Harry forced them away. Letting her gaze wander for a moment, she took in the majesty of Malfoy Manor and couldn’t help but feel that the Malfoys didn’t deserve such a home. A gilded horseless carriage pulled up in front of their small group and she followed Harry into it, sitting opposite him and Ginny. The silent ride up to the house only made her feel more awkward and uncomfortable. She and Ron were sitting quite close, but she couldn’t seem to look at him, let alone make small talk about the luscious gardens.
As the carriage slowed to a halt, she took a slow, deep breath in hopes of calming her nerves. She took the hand Ron offered her as she stepped out and immediately felt as if someone had given her a swift kick to the stomach. Why was she so jittery? For heaven’s sake, she’d been on a date with Viktor Krum. But she’d never quite felt for him as she did for Ron. She felt Ron drop her hand as they travelled up the stairs and blushed slightly. Maybe he didn’t want to hold her hand.
The Entrance Hall was spacious and full of portraits. Hermione thought the fairies were a nice touch, but felt as though the elegant people on canvas were judging her. She felt the familiar wave of silence and whispers sweep across the hall. Six years of being friends with Harry and she was quite accustomed to it. You’d think people would be over it by now…She thought, her eyes betraying her annoyance. He’s been back for years…
“No matter how much silk she puts on Malfoy's girl still looks like a scarlet woman.”
Hermione couldn’t hold back a small laugh as she heard Ron’s comment. He was acting like his mother, the only other person who might call someone a ‘scarlet woman’. She could see that he hadn’t intended his remark to be made to a silent room and was startled when he threw his arm around her. She still had barely said two words to him all evening. Taking a second to adjust to the weight of his arm around her shoulder, she was about to say something to him when he suddenly broke away, heading straight for one of the waving portraits.
“What are you looking at? We got an invitation!”
“Ron…”, she said as he trumped back over to the group,“…maybe we should…go in?” she asked, indicating the Ball Room and trying not to look too concerned. She watched him carefully, waiting for his response. The last thing they needed was to draw more attention to themselves. His expression softened and she accepted his hand with a smile when he offered it. As nervous as she was to be his date, she thought she might at least be able to calm him a little.
“You remember that Yule ball...were we didn't know what the hell we were doing?” He took a pause. “I know we still don't know what we're doing but I say we at least have fun this time. It is easier than wondering whether someone is going to kill us or not.”
“Exactly”, she replied, feeling a small boost in confidence. She’d done fairly well for herself at the Yule Ball. Viktor Krum certainly didn’t seem to have any complaints. If only Ron hadn’t been so moody. This time, he’d actually asked her without first pointing out that she was a girl. She smiled widely as Ron bowed to her. It was really quite unnecessary, but she appreciated the gesture. Turning to look at Harry, she wanted to say ‘Stay out of trouble’, but settled for a mildly stern look instead. This was not the place to be picking a fight with Draco Malfoy. Hoping he got the message, she smiled again and followed Ron onto the dance floor.
Outside of a friendly hug, they had never been this close. Hermione tried to hide the fact that her hands were shaking. Ron wasn’t the best dance partner she’d ever had but he was the most important. After a few minutes, she began to relax. Seeing other couples moving across the floor, hearing the beautiful music floating across the room. It was all rather dazzling.
"I am going to see if I can get some punch. Hopefully it does not have some sort of weird Muggle hating potion in it."
“Right.” she said, “I’ll…I’ll just be over there.” pointing to one side of the dance floor. She’d chosen to gloss over his potion comment. It was just Ron being Ron. Of all the things the Death Eaters could try, they surely wouldn’t go for Muggle-hating potion. As she stepped off the dance floor, she opened up her wristlet with the intention of removing the small mirror she had stored in it. With Ron gone, she could check her hair without feeling silly.
"Weasley!"
Oh no, what’s he done…She thought, abandoning her mirror and hurrying over to the drink table. Her eyes took in the scene…an embarrassed Ron and a drink-stained Pansy Parkinson. Of all people for him to spill a drink on, it had to be her. Hermione made her way over to Ron’s side in time to catch Pansy’s response.
"Do you have any idea how much this dress costs?" She said in a dangerous whisper. "I am pretty sure it is more than your whole family makes in three months."
"Oh I beg your pardon madam; your big nose must have knocked the glasses over."
“Ron, don’t”, Hermione pleaded, hoping not to cause a bigger scene. “It’s easy to fix.” She opened the wristlet once again, removing her wand, but someone beat her to the punch. Looking around, she recognized a Slytherin boy. She had never learned his name. Seeing that Pansy’s dress was now clean, she stowed her wand back in the small purse, hoping that would be the end of it. But, of course…
"You know Weasley your manners seem to be lacking, a typical trait among Gryffindors ney? All brawn to brains...Surprised they let you out of the Burrow looking like that."
“Please, this isn’t the place for school fights.” she told him dismissively, knowing that she’d never get though to him. “Ron, let’s find Harry.” she said, taking his arm and hoping he wouldn’t let this get to him. “We can get drinks later.”
“Shoo- Shoo!” He said waving his freckled hands and trying to get it to go away.
She glanced at Ron, who looked much better than he had at the Yule Ball, and noticed the peacocks for the first time as Harry forced them away. Letting her gaze wander for a moment, she took in the majesty of Malfoy Manor and couldn’t help but feel that the Malfoys didn’t deserve such a home. A gilded horseless carriage pulled up in front of their small group and she followed Harry into it, sitting opposite him and Ginny. The silent ride up to the house only made her feel more awkward and uncomfortable. She and Ron were sitting quite close, but she couldn’t seem to look at him, let alone make small talk about the luscious gardens.
As the carriage slowed to a halt, she took a slow, deep breath in hopes of calming her nerves. She took the hand Ron offered her as she stepped out and immediately felt as if someone had given her a swift kick to the stomach. Why was she so jittery? For heaven’s sake, she’d been on a date with Viktor Krum. But she’d never quite felt for him as she did for Ron. She felt Ron drop her hand as they travelled up the stairs and blushed slightly. Maybe he didn’t want to hold her hand.
The Entrance Hall was spacious and full of portraits. Hermione thought the fairies were a nice touch, but felt as though the elegant people on canvas were judging her. She felt the familiar wave of silence and whispers sweep across the hall. Six years of being friends with Harry and she was quite accustomed to it. You’d think people would be over it by now…She thought, her eyes betraying her annoyance. He’s been back for years…
“No matter how much silk she puts on Malfoy's girl still looks like a scarlet woman.”
Hermione couldn’t hold back a small laugh as she heard Ron’s comment. He was acting like his mother, the only other person who might call someone a ‘scarlet woman’. She could see that he hadn’t intended his remark to be made to a silent room and was startled when he threw his arm around her. She still had barely said two words to him all evening. Taking a second to adjust to the weight of his arm around her shoulder, she was about to say something to him when he suddenly broke away, heading straight for one of the waving portraits.
“What are you looking at? We got an invitation!”
“Ron…”, she said as he trumped back over to the group,“…maybe we should…go in?” she asked, indicating the Ball Room and trying not to look too concerned. She watched him carefully, waiting for his response. The last thing they needed was to draw more attention to themselves. His expression softened and she accepted his hand with a smile when he offered it. As nervous as she was to be his date, she thought she might at least be able to calm him a little.
“You remember that Yule ball...were we didn't know what the hell we were doing?” He took a pause. “I know we still don't know what we're doing but I say we at least have fun this time. It is easier than wondering whether someone is going to kill us or not.”
“Exactly”, she replied, feeling a small boost in confidence. She’d done fairly well for herself at the Yule Ball. Viktor Krum certainly didn’t seem to have any complaints. If only Ron hadn’t been so moody. This time, he’d actually asked her without first pointing out that she was a girl. She smiled widely as Ron bowed to her. It was really quite unnecessary, but she appreciated the gesture. Turning to look at Harry, she wanted to say ‘Stay out of trouble’, but settled for a mildly stern look instead. This was not the place to be picking a fight with Draco Malfoy. Hoping he got the message, she smiled again and followed Ron onto the dance floor.
Outside of a friendly hug, they had never been this close. Hermione tried to hide the fact that her hands were shaking. Ron wasn’t the best dance partner she’d ever had but he was the most important. After a few minutes, she began to relax. Seeing other couples moving across the floor, hearing the beautiful music floating across the room. It was all rather dazzling.
"I am going to see if I can get some punch. Hopefully it does not have some sort of weird Muggle hating potion in it."
“Right.” she said, “I’ll…I’ll just be over there.” pointing to one side of the dance floor. She’d chosen to gloss over his potion comment. It was just Ron being Ron. Of all the things the Death Eaters could try, they surely wouldn’t go for Muggle-hating potion. As she stepped off the dance floor, she opened up her wristlet with the intention of removing the small mirror she had stored in it. With Ron gone, she could check her hair without feeling silly.
"Weasley!"
Oh no, what’s he done…She thought, abandoning her mirror and hurrying over to the drink table. Her eyes took in the scene…an embarrassed Ron and a drink-stained Pansy Parkinson. Of all people for him to spill a drink on, it had to be her. Hermione made her way over to Ron’s side in time to catch Pansy’s response.
"Do you have any idea how much this dress costs?" She said in a dangerous whisper. "I am pretty sure it is more than your whole family makes in three months."
"Oh I beg your pardon madam; your big nose must have knocked the glasses over."
“Ron, don’t”, Hermione pleaded, hoping not to cause a bigger scene. “It’s easy to fix.” She opened the wristlet once again, removing her wand, but someone beat her to the punch. Looking around, she recognized a Slytherin boy. She had never learned his name. Seeing that Pansy’s dress was now clean, she stowed her wand back in the small purse, hoping that would be the end of it. But, of course…
"You know Weasley your manners seem to be lacking, a typical trait among Gryffindors ney? All brawn to brains...Surprised they let you out of the Burrow looking like that."
“Please, this isn’t the place for school fights.” she told him dismissively, knowing that she’d never get though to him. “Ron, let’s find Harry.” she said, taking his arm and hoping he wouldn’t let this get to him. “We can get drinks later.”