"We're dancing." Sadie said looking at Ron expectantly.
Ron hadn't taken his eyes off Harry and Hermione dancing. He mumbled a no, preferring to watch.
"Ron, come on. Please. For me?" Sadie said lean into him; she brushed her breast just slightly over his arm.
!
Harry just looked at her then laughed. "You aren't serious."
"Completely."
"Virago. Hmmm that's actually a good description."
"Harry!" Hermione cried.
Harry gave a boyish grin. "I'm kidding."
Hermione couldn't help but roll her eyes at him.
"I'm sorry but may I interrupt?"
Both Hermione and Harry looked up.
"Hey Ken." Hermione smiled.
"Hamilton." Harry nodded in greeting.
"May I have the next dance my fair co-worker?" He teased.
Harry looked at Ken then at Hermione. Then muttered something under his breath.
Hermione gave a laugh. "Of course."
Harry handed her over to him saying that he owed his wife a dance now and something else about getting out of the ring of fire.
Just as Hermione touched his arm, a new song came on.
It was an upbeat song.
"Oh god." Hermione said hiding her face, recognizing the song.
"Well, I know a pure blood certainly didn't pick out the soundtrack." Ken said ruefully.
Hermione laughed. "I'm pretty sure about that too."
!
"Who the bloody hell is that?" Two guys said at the same time. But neither heard the other as both were at different ends of the dance floor.
!
"You look radiant Hermione. Malfoy's the envy of every man here this evening."
Hermione blushed. "You're exaggerating."
"Not at all." He took a step forward as she took one back.
"I'm not trying to be nosy, but I thought you said you hate dancing."
"Oh I do. But… I just wanted to dance with the most beautiful woman here."
Hermione raised her brow at her. "Uh huh."
"Okay, I may have an ulterior motive."
"And?"
"Well you remember Rosie from Communications?"
"Oh my goodness, yes. She's obsessed with you. To a frightening extent really."
"Yeah well, earlier today after I saw you, she ambushed me."
"What kind of ambush?"
"Let's just say the kind that I will need a whole bottle of Listerine to get rid of. I just saw her coming toward me. I looked for a way to hide, but it was too late. So I figured that this was going to be my best escape."
Hermione was still giggling when Ken dipped her slightly.
"Ahem."
Hermione and Ken stopped dancing to see who the person was.
Draco stood there with his brows arched and didn't exactly look all that happy.
"Oh hi Draco." Hermione said.
"Nice to formally meet you. My name is Ken Hamilton." Ken brought out his hand for Draco to shake.
Draco ignored the hand and glared at where Ken still had his hand lightly resting on Hermione's side.
Ken flushed then dropped his hand. "Sorry about that."
"It's…"
Hermione narrowed her eyes at him.
"… fine." Then Draco shook Ken's hand.
"Um well. I'll see you and thanks." Ken smiled at Hermione.
As soon as Ken left, Draco grabbed Hermione and pulled her toward him.
"What was that?" Hermione hissed.
"You two looked too chummy."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
Draco leaned in close to her. Their lips a mere centimeter apart. "Even if we're pretending. The only guy I want you thinking about is me. The guy you can smile like that to is me. And I'm the only guy you're allowed to… flirt with at all." The words caressed her lips.
Hermione blinked almost lured by his seductive voice. "Oh my god. You're jealous!"
"Am not." Draco frowned.
"You so are." Hermione said giving a grin.
"I am not. Why would I be jealous of a twig like him?"
"No you're jealous because Ken's gorgeous and has impeccable manners."
Draco scowled at her. "Oh shut up and dance Granger.'
Hermione closed her mouth but still grinned. Secretly thrilled though that Ken could get that kind of reaction from Draco.
His kind of possessiveness was much different than Ron's. Ron had a temper. Draco was calm, collective, and all too sexy when he spoke like that. She couldn't believe it, but hearing him say those things, she felt like the most beautiful woman in the room instead of a harlot like Ron would make her feel.
Sheblushed however when she could feel all the stares that people were giving them.
"Draco, everyone's staring."
"Put your arms around my neck." Draco whispered into her ear softly.
Hermione did as he said somewhat reluctantly not sure where he was headed.
"We're going to give them something really to talk about." He said softly before placing his lips directly on her neck as well as both his hands on each side of her hips.
"Draco!" Hermione softly cried.
"Let go, Hermione, it's just the two of us now close your eyes. No one else is here. Think of the time in the Room of Requirement. Just the two of us. You in your purple dress and me in Slytherin garb, wearing those bloody muggle shoes you gave me for Christmas as a gag gift."
Hermione laughed lightly. "Converse Draco, they were converse."
Draco leaned his forehead against hers. One hand wrapped around her small waist and he twirled them, the both of them around the dance floor, back to that time. A time when the world had let them be and it was just the two of them.
"Granger?"
Hermione looked up from the bench she was sitting on and smiled when she saw Draco.
"Hey Malfoy."
"Why are you all dressed up? You actually don't look half bad."
"From you, I'll take that as a compliment."
"So, what's with the dress and heels?"
Hermione gave a sad smile. "Oh this?" She tugged on her dress.
"Ron said he would try to come today. But… obviously it was all for nothing."
Draco's face furrowed. "So Weasel stood you up." He said in a disgusted tone.
"He's just busy. Ron really wants to be the best and he loves quidditch a lot."
"Enough to hurt you for it." Draco said without thinking and immediately regretted it, the moment he saw her face fall.
"Yeah, maybe." She said softly, barely above a whisper.
Draco grimaced as he saw the usually bright and welcoming girl that he had come to somewhat like literally withdraw right in front of him. "Look at my feet."
"What?" Hermione looked up at him with a look that asked if he was brain damaged. "Why would I want to look at your ugly stinky… oh my god, you're wearing them!" Hermione said in surprise and delight.
"Well they're not half bad. Though I do not see how muggles are crazy about them. They look so cheap. There's not even any genuine Italian leather in it."
"Spoiled Brat." She said.
"Teacher's Pet." He retorted.
"Blonde Albino."
"Leader of the Nerd parade."
"Captain of the Slugs."
"I believe that would be Weasley if anyone."
Hermione burst into giggles just as he had wanted.
"So now what are you going to do?" Draco asked as he joined her on the bench.
"I guess I may as well get some homework done early." Hermione leaned on his shoulder.
"Dear Merlin you're just about halfway transformed to Professor McGonagall." He waited for the blow but she never whacked him. "Okay you're scaring me. That was just an invitation to hit me and you didn't."
Hermione sighed. "I guess I just don't feel like it today." She said as she closed her eyes and relaxed herself against him.
Draco willingly stopped much of his movement as not to disturb her.
They stayed together like that for fifteen minutes until a group of second years came out.
"Well it was peaceful for a short while." Hermione said.
"I hate second years." He glared at some that had passed them, looked at them, and then whispered to each other.
"Oh hush Malfoy. I guess I'll head to the library now. See you."
"You're staying in that dress?"
Hermione looked down at herself. "Well I really don't feel like changing. Why?"
Draco looked at her as she stared at him questioningly.
"Let's put that dress into use."
"What?"
Draco walked briskly holding Hermione's hand.
"You're slow."
"Well you're a bloody foot taller than me." Hermione said nearly jogging just to stay with him. Not that he'd let her lag behind.
They stopped right in front of the Room of Requirement.
"Paris, Venice, or New York?" He asked looking at her.
"Uh Venice?" Hermione said not sure why.
Then Draco opened the door.
When they stepped in Hermione gasped in awe.
She turned so that she could look everywhere. They were standing on a bridge, water ran right underneath it. There was a small quaint restaurant on the other side of the bridge.
"Wecome to Venice Granger." Draco said leading her to the restaurant around the back.
"It's gorgeous." She breathed.
The restraurant's back deck was just on the edge of the water. Tables and chairs surrounded the dance floor with fairy lights entwined with little pink flowers illuminating just above. Just on the water was two gondolas.
"How, I mean… this is amazing."
"Isn't it. The only thing it doesn't have is people. But honestly I like the isolation a bit."
"You've done this before?" Hermione asked whirling around to look at him.
"Yeah." But never with anyone else. He said the last part to himself. "My lady would you do me the honor of giving me a dance."
"Well my card tonight is full, but, for you I can make an exception kind sir." Hermione played along.
As soon as their hands touched, a song began to play.
Kiss me out of the bearded barley
Nightly, beside the green, green grass
Swing, swing, swing the spinning step
You wear those shoes and I will wear that dress.
She stepped back as he twirled her twice in a row. They went around the dance floor. Smiling like two fools.
Oh, kiss me beneath the milky twilight
Lead me out on the moonlit floor
Lift your open hand
Strike up the band and make the fireflies dance
Silver moon's sparkling
So kiss me
He gave her a spin with one arm so that now her back was curved against his chest and she was wrapped into him. No way out. Hermione could feel the beat of his heartbeat. She leaned back into his arms as they just swayed with the music. "Weasley's a fool." Draco whispered.
Kiss me down by the broken tree house
Swing me upon its hanging tire
Bring, bring, bring your flowered hat
We'll take the trail marked on your father's map
He spun her back. Both were breathing heavy at this point. Hermione looked up directly into Draco's silver orbs.
Oh, kiss me beneath the milky twilight
Lead me out on the moonlit floor
Lift your open hand
Strike up the band and make the fireflies dance
Silver moon's sparkling
So kiss me
"Kiss me." Hermione repeated the lyrics breathlessly.
Before he could stop himself, he did just as she said.
"I would've left Ron that night, Draco. If you hadn't told me that it should've never happened." Hermione said looking up at him sadly.
Draco bit his lip then gave a breathless sigh. He leaned his forehead into hers. "No you couldn't. I couldn't let you. You would've regretted it and all the people would have been so disappointed in you, Hermione."
"Don't assume things of me." Hermione said penetratingly. "You self-righteous nincompoop-" Hermione was cut off by a pair of lips capturing hers.
Ron stopped dancing completely as he stared furiously at the couple at the middle of the dance floor.
He dropped Sadie's hand.
Sadie grabbed the nearest mimosa from a waiter passing by. She hurried after him
"Whoa." Blaise said as he stared at his two best friends snogging on the dance floor a couple feet away from him and Luna.
Hermione began to run her fingers through Draco's soft blonde tendrils.
"Oh hell no." Ginny glared when she saw her brother and his date head towards Hermione and Draco. She stopped dancing with Harry in order to go after them.
Harry looked around confused then trailed off to where his wife was staring at. "Oh Merlin, Ron no." He groaned then began to follow his wife.
Hermione pulled away and stared up into his eyes. His eyes had a weird look to them.
Draco breathed heavy trying to stop himself from kissing her again but this time devouring her like she'd never been before.
Hermione gasped in shock when she felt something sticky and cold, really cold, slide down her back.
Draco looked up sharply and saw Sadie Rayne with a faux innocent and shocked look on her face holding a champagne chute that was now empty of its contents.
"Oh you high class wh-" Ginny began but Harry had covered her mouth with his hand before she could finish her sentence.
"Oh my god." Hermione cried. "Oh my god."
Draco squeezed her hand. "I'll be back." He said harshly.
Hermione looked up at him in confusion.
Draco walked right up to Sadie. He grabbed the champagne glass and crushed it with his bare hand. He glared right into her eyes. "You will regret that Rayne, accident or not."
Hermione looked at his hand in shock. "Oh my god, Draco Malfoy you idiot!" She yelled when she saw his hand was bleeding.
!
Hermione was washing Draco's hand out in the sink. "I can't believe you did that. What were you thinking you moron? You're bare hands? Glass. You stupid idiotic…" Hermione sighed. "amazing excuse of a man." Hermione leaned herself into him. "I can't believe you did that."
"Well I can."
Blaise made gagging noises in the back.
"Shut up Zabini." Draco said.
"This will sting a bit so be prepared." Hermione said then cast a spell that cleaned the wound.
Draco winced at the sharp sting. But it quickly faded as she cast a healing spell on his hand.
Draco sat on one of the lounge chairs in the ladies' room with Luna and Blaise as he waited for the spell to heal.
!
Ginny and Harry would have been there, but both were giving Ron an earful and at the same time trying to calm the reporters.
At the moment Harry was threatening to throw them all out and sue them if they wrote about what had just happened since it was a celebration in his honor.
"I don't believe you. You can't sue us."
"You want to try me?" Harry said menacingly.
The young reporter gulped. If it was anyone else, he dared would but this was Harry Potter, the public would never take his side against the Savior.
"Fine, we won't report, if you'll do a special report for us. An exclusive report." A reporter said to Harry.
Harry sighed.
"Fine."
!
Hermione felt disgusting in her mimosa dripped dress. Her back was all sticky and slimy; some of the drink was even in her hair. Before she had looked like Cinderella, now she looked like one of the stepsisters.
"Well now what do we do about you Hermione? A spell would clean the dress but, it would also ruin it at the same time." Blaise asked.
"Sadie Rayne claims it was an accident, but I don't believe her." Luna said.
"Yeah well me neither but the press do, a pretty face tells them she was accidentally hit by a couple dancing nearby and it just so happens to land on Hermione directly on her dress. Not to mention the fact she looked like as if she was about to cry. I don't care if that couple admitted they had indeed accidentally hit her but seriously. She did it on purpose." Blaise said, his teeth clenching.
"Well now what do we do about you Hermione?" Luna sighed sadly. "And your pretty hair was hit too."
"You don't look awful Hermione, but… you don't look like you did before. The orange juice sort of… yeah." Blaise said.
Hermione and Draco stared at each other. Then said "Gustav" at the same time.
________
Longer Song Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer