Twenty
October 31st 1998:
Hermione woke up with the blue light of a patronus looking at her.
“Open the door!” It was Ginny’s voice. Hermione groaned and got out of bed. Today was the day of the Halloween Ball that Mcgonagall is throwing. Hermione sleepily walked downstairs and opened the portrait door. Once opened, it revealed Ginny, Pansy, Millicent, and Daphne.
“Good Afternoon Sleepy Head.” Ginny told her.
“It’s not afternoon.”
“Hermione, it’s one pm.” Millicent told her. Hermione turned and looked at the clock they had in the common room.
“Oh. Well come on in.” The girls shuffled in with their dress bags, shoe boxes, and makeup bags. “Go ahead and get set up in my room. I’m gonna pop in the shower real quick.”
“Don’t take too long!” Pansy said in a sing-song voice.
Hermione hadn’t meant to sleep so late into the day but the night before, she was up late with Draco. They had a very heated discussion about Care of Magical Creatures which ended with a very heated snogging session.
Walking to the bathroom, Hermione quickly stripped and hopped into the shower. Washing her hair was not supposed to be a quick task but she would have to be fast today. With her curls, Hermione hated using washing spells. After doing that for a year on the run with the boys, she vowed to never do it again.
Once her hair was washed she stepped out of the shower. She used a spell to rid the hair from her legs, under arms and private parts of any hair. Then she dried her body and wrapped her robe around her.
Another thing Hermione refused to do was drying spells on her hair. In short, Hermione never used magic on her hair except to make it look nice. Instead, she wrapped a towel on her head and walked into her room.
“That’s a sexy little robe you got on, Granger.” Pansy told her. Pansy was currently sitting on Hermione’s bed in her underwear doing her makeup.
“Thank you.” Hermione laughed. “I’m surprised to see you do your makeup the muggle way.”
“Doing makeup with magic is disastrous. You can never make it look perfect.” Ginny told her.
“Noted”
“Hey Granger, What tie should I we-” Draco walked into the room but stopped as soon as he saw the rest of the girls. “Oh Hello. I didn’t realize you all were here.”
“Wear all black. It suits you.” Pansy told him.
“Thank Pans.” Draco looked at Hermione and she swore she saw a slight blush on his face.
“I thought you were gonna be with Blaise and Theo?” Millicent asked him, suspiciously.
“Uh, I’m about to leave. I heard the shower stop and wanted Granger’s advice.” Pansy gave him an unamused look. “I will see you ladies later.” Draco quickly walked out.
“So why is Malfoy walking in here asking for fashion advice?” Ginny questioned Hermione.
“I don’t know.”
“You know, for some reason, I don’t believe you.”
“Let’s just finish getting ready.” Hermione changed the subject.
When it got close to time, Ginny left the girls to go find Harry and Ron, Pansy and Millicent went to meet Blaise and Theo, Daphne went to find Lavender. Hermione stayed behind to finish her hair.
Hermione straightened her hair, using the power/magic adapter she brought to Hogwarts.
Once she was finally done, she used a touch of magic just to secure every hair in place.
Hermione set her wand down and was fixing her lipstick when a knock sounded at her door.
“Come in.” Draco walked in.
“Wanted to make sure you’re alone this time.” Hermione smiled. Draco walked up to her and ran his fingers through her hair. “I like your curls.”
“Weren’t you the one who made fun of my hair years one through five?”
“I think I've already apologized for that.”
“You have. I just like to tease you.” Hermione stood up from her chair and wrapped her arms around Draco’s neck.
“Oh I know.” He leaned down and kissed her gently. “We should go soon. Are you almost ready?”
“I just need to slip into my dress.” Hermione separated from Draco and untied her robe, letting it drop to the floor.
“Bloody Hell, Hermione.” Hermione Granger stood in front of Draco Malfoy in nothing but her black lace knickers. Hermione took her dress from where it was hanging and stepped into it.
“Zip me up?” Hermione turned her back and held her hair to the side.
“You.” Draco kissed her neck. “Are.” He ran his hands down her sides. “A.” His fingers found the zipper. “Tease.” He zipped the dress all the way up.
“I know.” Hermione bent down to pick up her shoes, rubbing herself against Draco. Draco’s hands grabbed Hermione’s waist. Hermione slipped her black heels on and straightened her back. “Are you ready to go?” Hermione asked Draco.
“Yes, you bloody tease.” Draco placed one kiss on Hermione’s neck before taking her hand walking out the room together.
“Do you have your mask?” Hermione asked him.
“Yes and I have yours too.” Draco pulled two masks from his suit pocket. Handing Hermione one, he charmed the other to stay on his face.
“Are you ready for tonight?” Hermione asked as they walked hand in hand to the Great Hall.
“Am I ready to tell Potter and Weasel that I, Draco Malfoy, am dating their best friend? No, not at all. Remind me to confiscate their wands upon arrival.” Hermione laughed.
“They are not going to attack you. Maybe verbally, but not physically.”
“At least you know my friends like you.”
“Yes they do. And they definitely know something is going on. Pansy just loved how you strolled right into my room this morning.” He smirked.
“It’s not my fault I didn’t know they were there.” They reached the great hall. “I want to walk in holding your hand.”
“I want to walk in holding your hand.”
“We talked about telling our friends, but not the school.”
“I’m all in Draco. If you want to walk in there and pretend we aren’t together, we can do that. But if you want to walk in and tell the school, I’m right here with you.”
“We’re in masks. Your hair is straight. No one would even know it’s you.”
“I’m fine with that too.”
“Come on, let’s join the party.” Draco opened the door and followed Hermione in.
It was the perfect Halloween version of the yule ball. Pumpkins, skeletons, all the stereotypical Halloween decor magnified to Hogwarts level.
“Have I told you how beautiful you are?” Draco whispered to Hermione.
“No. I don’t think you have.”
“Well,” Draco pulled Hermione into him. “You are the most beautiful witch in this entire place.”
“You are the most handsome wizard in this entire place.” Draco smirked.
“I already knew that.” Hermione rolled her eyes and smacked Draco’s chest.
“You’re ridiculous.” Music started and all the couples began to dance.
“Hermione Granger, would you do me the honors of sharing a dance with me?” Draco bowed and formally asked Hermione to dance.
“I would love to.” Hermione took his hand and pulled her into him. “Just go easy on me. Not all of us took ballroom dancing classes as a child.”
“I’ll go easy on you.” Draco said right before spinning Hermione around and then into his arms. She laughed as she crashed into his chest.
Hermione spent all night in front of all students fourth year and up, dancing with Draco Malfoy and no one was paying attention to them. It was almost a relief. For a moment in time, Hermione felt like she wasn’t War Heroine, Brightest Witch of her Age, Hermione Granger and that Draco wasn’t ex-death eater, Draco Malfoy. They were both just Hermione and Draco. A normal couple.
“Hermione!” Ginny’s voice reminded her that they were in fact not a normal couple. “I didn’t even recognize you with your straight hair. It’s beautiful.”
“Thanks Gin.” Draco let his hand rest on Hermione’s waist. What’s the point in moving away when in less than an hour, the red head is going to find out about their relationship anyways.
“Ferret. You look decent.”
“Was that a compliment?” Draco smirked. “You look lovely, Weaselette.”
“Oh and a compliment from Draco Malfoy?” She put her hand to his forehead. “Are you sick?”
“It’s only polite to return a compliment. That’s all I was doing.” Ginny smirked back at the blonde.
“Anyways Mione, Ron is looking for you. I pointed him the other way once I saw you dancing with the Ferret.”
“Oh. I promised Ron a dance.” Hermione mumbled to Draco.
“Go ahead. I’ll see you at the dorm later.” Hermione smiled a goodbye to him as he walked off to find his friends.
“You two have been dancing together all night.”
“Yes we have been.”
“Are you ready to admit it to me yet?” Hermione smiled at Ginny.
“We’re announcing it tonight. To everyone.”
“You’re going to tell Harry and Ron you are dating Draco Malfoy?” Ginny whispered. “Ron is going to punch him.”
“That’s what Draco said.” Ginny laughed.
“You really like him, don’t you?”
“I do.” Ginny smiled.
“I am so happy for you.”
“I appreciate you so much Gin.” The two girls hugged.
“Mione, is that you?” Ron’s voice separated their hug. “I’ve never seen you with your hair straight before.”
“It’s beautiful.” Harry said.
“Thank you, Harry.”
“Wanna dance Mione?” Hermione couldn’t help but wince at the difference between how Draco asked her to dance and how Ron did. She knew she shouldn’t compare the two.
“Sure.” Hermione took Ron’s hand and they started swaying. It was nothing like dancing with Draco.
“How have you been?”
“I’ve been good. Busy with school and head first duties. How has being an Auror been?”
“It's a little more boring than chasing a dark wizard but it’s still fun.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it. You and Harry have both worked so hard for this.”
“We both wish you were there with us.”
“You know I’m not interested in being an Auror. I want to work in the Ministry’s legal department.”
“You’d make such a great Auror Mione. COuld you imagine? You, Harry, and I are fighting crime again together.”
“Ronald.”
“I’ll drop it.”
“Thank you.” The song ended and Hermione dropped Ron’s hand.
“Thank you all for a wonderful night.” Mcgonagall got the student’s attention. “I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween night.” Student’s cheered. “Have a wonderful rest of your nights. Please remember, all school rules still apply even on a holiday.”
“So after party at your dorm, right?” Ron asked. “Malfoy isn’t going to be there, is he?”
“He will be there, Ronald. Draco lives there.” Hermione started to walk away and Ron followed her.
“Are you ready to party?” Ginny asked as she approached the two, with Harry standing next to him.
“Yes. Blaise and Theo said they got “the good stuff”. I’m not really sure what that means but I was guaranteed a good time.” Hermione laughed, grabbing onto Ginny’s arms.
“Wait. The snakes are joining us.”
“Ron. We like them now. Pansy Parkinson did my hair for this event.”
“Pansy Parkinson tried to turn your boyfriend over to Voldemort.”
“Ronald.”
“I’ll play nice. Anything for you Mione.”
The four walked to the Head’s dorm in silence. Hermione whispered the password and opened the door.
“Hermione Granger! Finally the Princess has arrived! We can get wasted!” Theo cheered standing on the coffee table.
“You’re already wasted!” Pansy yelled at him from Blaise’s lap.
“Shhh! Don’t tell Granger!”
“Wait thirty seconds for me to change Theo!” Hermione ran from the door to her bedroom. Waiting in there for her was Draco Malfoy.
“Thank Merlin you’re alone. I was worried Potter or Weasel were going to come in with you.” Hermione smiled.
“Are you ready for this?”
“I’m ready. We should do it now before Theo gets any drunker.” Hermione laughed.
“He’s standing on our coffee table.”
“Of course he is.” Draco shook his head.
“Will you help me with my dress?” Hermione turned her back and moved her hair away.
“You’re trying to kill me, aren’t you?”
“Yes. That’s my master plan.” Hermione smiled and Draco smirked. Draco stood up and unzipped the zipper on her dress. “Thank you.” Hermione stepped out of her dress and moved around Draco to grab her t-shirt and shorts she wears to bed.
“One thing before we go.” Draco took his wand and mumbled a spell. Hermione’s straight hair turned back into her messy curls. “When I tell my friends and yours that I am dating the Hermione Granger, it’s going to be with your wild and crazy curls that I love so much.” Hermione blushed.
“Come on. Let’s go tell our friends we’re dating.” Hermione took his hand and led him out the room. Walking down the stairs hand in hand with Draco Malfoy was the happiest Hermione had ever felt.
The first to see them was Pansy, then Blaise, followed by Theo and Milli, and then it was Ginny, Harry and last, Ron.
“Hermione?” Ron questioned as soon as she saw their joint hands.
“Draco and I are dating.” Hermione announced. She did not want to tiptoe around it. She believed being straight to the point was the best way to do this.
“You owe me money!” Pansy yelled to Theo.
“Damn! You two failed me. I thought you’d keep it a secret till Christmas.” Theo said, handing Pansy money.
“Why does this not surprise me?” Hermione said laughing and smiling at Draco.
“You are dating Malfoy?!” Ron yelled. “The ferret! The boy who bullied you and us for our whole school lives? Who tried to kill Dumbledore! He almost killed Katie Bell! He’s a death eater.”
“He was forgiven and pardoned! He was a child. Just like us. Just like Harry.”
“Hermione. He bullied you. He is the reason you have that word carved into your arm!”
“In case you forgot, he didn’t identify us. If he had, we would have been killed right then and there and Voldemort would have won. He helped save us. He helped protect Harry.”
“I can’t believe you’re defending him. Do you not remember when he called you a mudblood? At twelve years old!”
“I also remember you making fun of me. What did you say, ‘It’s no wonder no one can stand her…’ You’re not as innocent as you say you are.”
“I apologized for that.”
“Draco apologized too.”
“Harry? What do you have to say? You’ve been awfully quiet.”
“Are you happy?” Harry asked. “Does he make you happy?”
“So happy, Harry. Happiest I have been in a very long time.” Draco smiled.
“He treats you well?”
“Yes.” Harry reached his hand out to Draco’s.
“I just want Hermione to be happy. If you’re the way to her happiness, then I am all for it.” Ginny smiled at her boyfriend. She was ready to fight him for Hermione.
“Thank you Harry.”
“You’re joking.” Ron scoffed.
“Ron, you had your chance and you blew it. You ended your relationship with Hermione. You made the choice. You have to live it.” Harry told him.
“I’m leaving.” Ron turned around and walked out the door.
“Well now that the bummer redhead is gone, no offense Gin, we can start the party!” Theo yelled and laughed.
“That went better than expected.” Draco whispered in her ear.
“I’m going to need a drink if it means seeing you two snog. I may approve but it doesn't mean I want to see it.” Hermione laughed.
“Then get a drink, Potter, because I am about to snog your best friend right in front of you.” Draco pulled Hermione into him and kissed her. Hermione laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“That is going to take some getting used too.” Harry said, taking Ginny’s hand before walking over to the couches with the Slytherins.