Better Ridiculous Than Boring (Drabbles)

The Ministry Summer Gala

“If you glare at the woman any harder, she’s going to burst into flame, Granger.” Malfoy drawled as he appeared at her shoulder, offering her a glass of champagne.

“I suppose you’re here to gloat that she’s danced with you twice already.” Hermione replied, accepting the glass and taking a deep swig.

“I had never taken you for the jealous type. How interesting.” He said thoughtfully, the ice in his glass of whiskey clinking as he swirled the liquid.

“You know it’s an effect of her veela status. I’m doing my best not to feel it. I’ll hate myself tomorrow for it.” She said, sighing and suddenly feeling incredibly tired.

“I’ve known Gabi since she was a child, you know. She lives only a few miles from one of the Malfoy properties in Marseille.” He said, and she shot him a withering look.

“Why are you telling me that? Just in case I’d forgotten how terribly rich you are?” She asked, and he snorted lightly.

“It wasn’t, no, but you’re in no mood for conversation. I see that now. If she’s taken a shine to the Weasel, however, you’re going to need to get a handle on whatever is going on with you. It could get messy otherwise.” He said, and she sighed again.

“I know. It’s just… I mean, look at her. She’s ethereal, just utterly perfect. Why would anyone else even bother with her around, you know? She makes me feel ugly things. I don’t like it.”

Malfoy hummed. “It’s quite the feat to find someone so enamoured with you that they’d be able to ignore a veela, Granger. I’m not sure wizards like that come around very often.”

“As if anyone would even bother.” She replied, and he drained his drink.

“You should open your eyes. Maybe one will turn up eventually.” He said, before disappearing back into the crowds of people. She sipped her champagne, watching Ron flirt with Gabrielle, and did her best to keep her face neutral. It wasn’t that she wanted Ron anymore, it was just the principle of the thing. She wanted someone to look at her like that.

***

St Mungo’s Charity Fundraiser

“You didn’t fancy being auctioned off?” Malfoy asked her with a smirk as he sat down at her empty table. She rolled her eyes.

“Gods no. I’m not embarrassing myself like that, standing there as the room falls silent.”

He frowned. “Why would that happen?”

“Be serious, Malfoy. Nobody wants to date me for free, they’re not going to pay for the privilege.” She replied bitterly.

“Who told you that?” He asked almost incredulously.

“Nobody told me, it’s just fact. I’m not going to stand up there and look like an idiot.” She gestured towards the stage, where there was a long line of stunning women waiting.

“People would have bid for you, Granger.” He said as the auction started, turning to face the stage. Hermione wondered later why he’d even come. He didn’t bid on a single person, just donated a stupid amount of galleons at the end of the night instead. It was hardly in the spirit.

***

New Year’s Eve

“Are you seriously hiding?” Malfoy asked, plopping down on the bench next to her. She shivered in the late night breeze, and almost immediately, Malfoy’s jacket was around her shoulders.

“It’s embarrassing, isn't it? Not having a midnight kiss.” She muttered, staring out at the Nott Manor gardens.

“For somebody so famously intelligent, you make an awful lot of assumptions.” Malfoy replied, and she frowned at him.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He smiled down at her. She didn’t like the way he did it, as if he was being patient with her. Like he was about to explain something that should have been obvious. “At the Summer Gala, when nobody spoke to you because Gabi was there. Or the auction, when you thought nobody would bid for a date with you. When you’re out here, hiding because there’s nobody inside that wants to kiss you.”

“Yes, please do summarise all my embarrassing moments from the last year, Malfoy, thanks.”

He huffed out a laugh. “Granger, I spoke to you. I was there to bid on you. There’s nobody inside that wants to kiss you because I’m out here.”

She whirled on him, gaping up at his honest expression. “What?”

“The attraction to a veela grows stronger the longer you spend in their presence, yes? I’ve known Gabi since I was a child. So explain to me why I’ve never so much as hugged her in a way that wasn’t platonic.”

“Is this a joke?” She whispered, wondering how she’d repair the gaping cracks in her heart if it turned out that it was.

Malfoy took her hand in his, holding it gently, almost reverently. “Of course not. You deserve somebody that understands your value, Hermione. Somebody that wants to understand your complexities. The way you’re strong and delicate at the same time. Headstrong and so very unsure all at once. Let me be that person for you, and I promise you’ll never sit at an empty table at a gala ever again.”

“There are so many women that want you, Draco. Better ones than me.” She said softly.

He shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not. I wouldn’t know. I’ve been too busy staring at you.”

In that moment, Hermione suddenly understood what he meant. She’d been glaring at the world, staring in jealousy at Gabi and Ron and all those other women, that she’d never noticed. She hadn’t seen the way Malfoy had always been close by, always watching her as if the rest of the world was inherently dull in comparison. She hadn’t known, she was too busy staring elsewhere.

He was in sharp, clear focus now.

“I’m sorry.” She whispered. He shook his head as a distant bell began chiming, signifying that midnight had arrived.

“Don’t apologise. You’re paying attention now.” He replied softly, their lips meeting as the new year arrived.