Chapter 10 - The Spring Dance

It was the day of the Spring Dance, two hours before the event started and Hermione sat in the dressing room, frustrated beyond belief. There were two reasons for her infuriation. The first was Narcissa Malfoy, who, despite Hermione's protest, had insisted that the latter starter preparing for the Spring Dance, a whole five hours before it actually began. The main reason was of course that Hermione would be going with Draco, and therefore be representing the Malfoy family, who settled for nothing but the absolute best.

Very reluctantly, muttering under her breath about pompous purebloods, Hermione had followed the dressing maid, hired solely for the occasion, to be pampered and polished. After spending forty-five minutes in a vanilla and jasmine scented bath, she was dragged to a large dressing table, where her hair had been attacked by no less than three hairdressers. They had slaves away for more than an hour, pulling at Hermione's impossible hair, curling it around their wands, muttering various incantations and poured various potions over it to ensure that it did not look anything like its usual "bird nest" as Draco now called it.

Then it was time for her manicure and pedicure. Hermione's nails had been trimmed, buffed and polished into a beautiful French manicure. That process took half an hour, and it was at this point that Hermione began to see exactly why Narcissa had recommended five hours, but the thought did nothing to help her stress levels or high blood pressure.

As the beautician applied powder to her face, Hermione thought back to the second reason of her frustration. You see, she had been fast asleep, dreaming of now only Merlin knows what, when a particular albino ferret and decided to pour a rather large glass of water over her head. She woke up, screaming like a banshee on cocaine, insisting that it wasn't at all her fault and upon seeing the ferret's all too innocent face at the foot of the bed, trying its best not to burst into hysterics, she had completely lost it. Her face turned a shade of purple Harry's Uncle Vernon would have been proud of as she got up and chased Draco around the bedroom until he had bolted into the bathroom, instantly locking the door behind him in a desperate event to avoid being hit over the head with and awfully pink and fluffy bunny slipper. He came out ten minutes later only to have said slipper chucked at his head. But Hermione, who was both furious and had a terrible aim, missed him by no less than two feet.

Cursing in her mind at the arrogant prat, Hermione swore to herself that if Draco were to act the way he did his morning at the Spring Dance, she would blast him into oblivion. With that satisfying thought in mind, Hermione smiled contently, closing her eyes so that the beautician could apply eyeshadow to her lids.

"Daddy, what's that?" Asked Nick, pointing at the fifty-foot high quidditch goals at the end of a world cup sized pitch.

"That is the quidditch pitch." Replied Draco, smiling when he saw the little blonde's eyes go wide and his expression changed to one of pure delight.

"Cool! Uncle Hawwy and Uncle Ron always talk about quidditch. They say it's the best game ever invented."

"Do they now? Well as surprising as it sounds, I actually agree with them there."

"I wish I could fly." Said Nick out of the blue.

Draco stared in shock. "You-you mean you can't fly?" He asked incredulously.

"No." Said Nick sadly, pouting slightly "Mummy says it's too dangerous to fly, says it's not safe. One time uncle Harry let me use one with his help, but that was a very long time ago."

Draco thought back to the photo of Nick floating a few feet from the ground. "Typical Granger!" Groaned Draco. "Of course, she'd say that. I swear that woman takes the fun out of everything. Then again, it's probably because she can't fly herself."

"You mean mummy can't fly?" It was Nick's turn to look shocked.

"Just don't tell her I told you" Was Draco's reply. He then laughed at his son's expressions, ruffling his hair. "You know what Nick, sometime next week, I'm going to take you out to Diagon Alley, and we'll get you a broom."

"Really?" Cried Nick. "Daddy will you really? But what about mummy, what will she say?"

"I'm sure we can find a way around her."

At this point, Nick ran up to his father and wrapped his tiny arms around his legs, saying "Thank you daddy, you're the best."

It seemed that Draco had frozen, but it wasn't long before he regained his composure and, not knowing what else to do, he bent down and picked Nick up and kissed the top of his head. They stood like that for a moment when suddenly, Nick jumped from Draco's lap and ran off calling over his shoulder "I bet you can't catch me daddy!"

Draco threw his head back and laughed before running after the smaller boy, not caring that he was dressed in long, expensive black robes.

Hermione stood waiting impatiently in the bedroom for Draco to finish dressing up. It was past the time the dance began and Hermione had never been one for being late, no matter what the occasion. She had taken to pacing around the room in an attempt to resist the urge of breaking down the door and dragging Malfoy to the Dance.

"Hurry up Malfoy." She called through the bathroom door "We're going to be late."

"I have to make sure I look perfect don't I Granger?"

Rolling her eyes, she continued pacing and thirty seconds later she huffed and marched up to the door, banging on it hard and yelling "HURRY UP!" When there was no reply, she banged on it hard once and cried "What are you a woman?"

There was a click of the lock and Hermione rushed back from the door and only a second later, it opened revealing a smirking Draco Malfoy dressed in an expensive white tuxedo. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Hermione standing in the middle of the room, glaring at him with utmost dislike written all over her face. It wasn't her expression that had caused him to stop, it was the way she was dressed. If he hadn't heard her yelling through the door, he would have a hard time believing this was Granger.

He stared as though mesmerized, a single thought crossing his mind, a thought he wouldn't dare share with anyone. Her dress was made of pure silk and clung to her body perfectly. It was impossible to tell the exact colour of it because as the light hit it at different angles, it appeared to be every shade of blue imaginable. The dress was tight fitting around her torso, bringing out the shape of her curvy upper body, and it flared out at her hips, flowing down into a many layered skirts ending just below her knees. Her hair had been smoothed down into luscious curls, half of which were clasped at the back of her head by a beautiful silver clip, while the other half cascaded down her back. There were a few strands framing her face, almost hiding the silver tear drop earrings she wore. Her makeup had been done so that she looked natural yet stunning at the same time with a minimal amount of foundation, eyeliner, mascara, matching eye shadow and clear lip gloss. Her feet were donned in expensive silver stilettos. All in all, Draco thought she looked absolutely gorgeous, a title that in the past he did not deem her worthy of.

Hermione stood there silently as Draco's eyes swept her up and down. She thought he looked quite good in his white tux and black Italian shoes. His hair was gelled back loosely, and a few strands hung in his eyes.

"I see you've put in an effort, Granger." Came Draco's drawl, interrupting the tense silence.

"Do I hear myself receiving a compliment for the Draco Malfoy?" Smirked Hermione. "Muggle-born hating extraordinaire of the century."

"Don't get too excited Granger. It wasn't a compliment. How have made nothing more than a mere improvement from the ugliness you usually support."

"You're such an asshole, Malfoy." Said Hermione, though his comments did not affect her in the least.

"Why thank you my dear, but in the future, you should focus on telling me something I don't know."

"If you've quite finished, Malfoy, we better leave or we're going to be late."

"There is nothing like being fashionably late." Said Draco arrogantly. "But of course, you would know nothing about that, seeing as you've probably never in your life attended such a high-class event."

"I don't like to waste my life trying to impress people that mean nothing to me whatsoever." Hermione replied, slowly losing her temper.

"But in case you do feel lost" continued Draco, as though Hermione had not spoken. "All you have to do is ask and I'll help you."

"Not likely Malfoy, I'd rather-"

But what Hermione would or would not rather do was something that Draco would not know because at that very moment his mother came bursting into the room and yelled at the two of them, demanding that they leave at once or Julia Robinson would never let her live it down that a Malfoy had been late to her function. Upon hearing this, both Hermione and Draco rushed out the door, in hopes of not making Narcissa angrier.

Outside the front doors, a beautiful horse drawn carriage awaited them with the driver sitting rather stiffly at the front, waiting to depart, and a foot man holding the door open for the two of them. When Hermione questioned Draco about the carriage, he replied in an almost bored tone that they needed to arrive in style. Hermione felt like a fairy-tale princess, finally going to her ball, but the Prince Charming in her case more represented the evil stepmother.

Once the footman had kindly helped her into the carriage, all she could to was gasp. The interior represented that of a muggle limousine with elongated seats and a mini bar at the side. They rode in silence as the carriage travelled at a miraculous speed toward their destination. She knew it was magic, for there were no way that the beautiful white Arabian horses pulling the carriage could move do fast, or so smoothly. When they stared to slow down, Hermione realised that they must have arrived. She resisted sticking her head out of the window to look at her surroundings, but soon realised that there was no need as the carriage came to a stop and the footman opened the door for them.

Draco stepped out first and as Hermione followed him, it was not the footman that helped her, it was Draco. When she looked at him bewildered, he leaned towards her ear and whispered, "We're supposed to be acting like a couple, remember?"

Groaning inwardly, Hermione reluctantly took his offered arm and began walking towards the mansion that stood in front of them. It was as large as the Malfoy Manor and looked fairly similar, so Hermione was not all that impressed because it seemed she was now used to these large and sometimes foreboding mansions.

They followed a small crowd heading towards a set of large white doors. After they were permitted, upon displaying their invitations off course, they walked into a large entrance hall where they were guided into a humongous ballroom. As they entered it, Hermione gasped, and her eyes widened. The room looked absolutely beautiful. It had been made to look like a forest clearing, with a small stream running down the side and a large waterfall in the corner. Flowers of all colours had been decorated around the room and real butterflies, pixies and fairies flew around. Tables were set all around and they seemed to be carefully carved wood stumps. There was a large dance floor in the middle covered in petals that seemed to stay put not matter who stepped on them. All in all, it was absolutely miraculous. But Hermione's ponderings were interrupted as a black-haired, blue-eyed woman dressed in midnight blue dress robes came towards them.

"Draco!" she cried. "It has been too long!"

"Mrs Robinson," Replied Draco, stepping forwards and kissing her knuckles. "It most certainly has."

They chatted like that for a few moments, Julia Robinson asking about Draco's mother and what he, himself, had been up to these past few years. It wasn't until Hermione let out a frustrated sigh that the older woman realised, she was actually standing there.

"And who are you? I don't believe we've met before." She asked rather harshly, shocking Hermione into a state of speechlessness.

"Mrs Robinson, this is Hermione Granger." Introduced Draco, coming to her rescue and wrapping an arm around her waist.

"Ahh! Harry Potter's war heroine. The Brains behind the Operation." Spat Julia. "But Draco, she's a mud-muggleborn! What on earth are you doing with her?"

"You know those prejudices don't mean anything to me anymore." Said Draco, laughing nervously as he cast Hermione a sideways glance. Her face had turned red with fury.

"But still, I always expected you to date no one but a pureblood." Julia stated, seemingly upset.

"There aren't enough purebloods left in the world." It was Hermione that spoke that time.

Julia, happy that she had finally gotten a rise out of Hermione, grinned maliciously and said "But I'm very sure Draco would do better with those that are available than he would with you. No offence to your girlfriend Draco dear, but I'm sure you would do well with a woman like my daughter. You do, after all, deserve the best".

She knew she had crossed the line with that statement, but she did not at all care because is this is what it took for Draco Malfoy to fall for her daughter, then it would be very worth it. He was the most eligible bachelor in Europe, for goodness's sake; he shouldn't be even seen with people like the Granger girl. No, Kaitlyn would make a much better girlfriend, and wife, for him.

Hermione's face at the moment was as red as Ron's when he hot angry but she kept her silence. One, because Draco was squeezing her hand painfully tight in an attempt to refrain her from speaking and secondly because Narcissa had warned her about Julia Robinson, telling her that if Hermione said anything to offend her, Julia would never let her hear the end of it.

"That's very kind of you, Mrs Robinson." Said Draco through clenched teeth "I'm glad you think that I deserve the best. But truthfully, the best for me is Hermione."

"How sweet." Sneered Julia in a tone that suggested otherwise. "I'm sure you have your reasons for being with her. But remember that Kaitlyn is more than willing, and has always been, to be with you."

With that she left, apparently trying to emphasize her words, but Draco and Hermione stood there is shocked silence. When she was sure Julia was out of hearing range Hermione finally spoke "Can you believe that? That stupid bitch insulted me to my face. Who the hell does that? I mean sure I'm a muggleborn, but at least have some sense! Honestly, you rich people have your heads stuck so far up your asses it'd be impossible even for a dragon to pull it out. Be glad I didn't hex her into oblivion."

"I know how you feel. I hate that woman." Sighed Draco. Hermione stared at him; he was actually agreeing with her. This woman must have done something very horrible to him for something like this to occur. Draco chuckled at the look she was giving him, confusing Hermione beyond belief. "It isn't the first time she's tried to hook me up with her daughter. I don't even know why she bothers; Kaitlyn Robinson practically throws herself at anything with two legs and a penis. It's so repulsive." He said scowling.

Hermione laughed at this and after composing herself, she asked "So you hate her because of that?"

"No, that and..."

"And what?"

"Well...Julia had a fight with my mother once just because she wore the same colour as her on some random ball. Apparently, mother spied on her and stole the colour she had designed specifically for herself" Draco explained, his expression telling her the worst was still to come. He picked two glasses of champagne off a tray held by a passing house elf and passed one to Hermione and taking a sip out of his own before continuing. "So, you can imagine she wanted revenge the stupid wench. She paid Rita Skeeter to write an article in the Prophet about how mother was an alcoholic and how I liked to dress in tights and pole dance at gay bars."

Hermione, who had just gone to take a sip from her glass, almost inhaled half of her champagne and burst into a fit of hysterical giggles. "I can imagine the damage that did to your ego."

Draco scowled at her, though the corners of his mouth twitched into a small smile. "Yeah, you could say that." He said laughing. "But then her and mother made up and mother asked her about it, she naturally denied everything and said that Skeeter did it all on her own. We knew the truth of course, someone had tipped mother off and well, I've never forgiven her for it."

Hermione did not get to comment on this because at that moment one of Draco's colleagues came up to them and after a short introduction to both him and Hermione, the three chatted pleasantly. It continued like this for about an hour, Hermione walked around, clutching Draco's arm as he introduced her to more of his colleagues or people he knew through his family. After what felt like the hundredth person, everyone was informed that dinner would shortly and that they should all be seated as it did so. The two of them found a table for two in a scheduled corner where they sat and ate in silence, as they usually did at home. Hermione missed Nick because he usually made awkward occasions like dinner a good time with the countless pointless questions he asked. It wasn't until dessert ended that the silence was broken by a horrible high-pitched voice:

"DRACO! You naughty boy, why didn't you tell me you were here? No wonder I didn't see your mother around." Said a tall, anorexic woman with blonde curls and bright blue eyes, so like her mother's.

"Kaitlyn." Greeted Draco, somewhat weakly. "How have you been?"

"Excellent! You tell?" she asked, pulling up a chair and sitting very close to Draco.

"Oh, you know, I'm always busy with work and things."

"I've always told you, Draco, you overwork yourself." Said Kaitlyn, laying a claw-like hand on Draco's upper arm. "You need to relax." She was now rubbing his arm up and down.

"I've got to work to make a living" Draco said, trying desperately to remove her hand from his being.

"Don't be silly Draco; we all know you've got a mountain of gold locked up in Gringotts. I don't even know why you bother working. Your money is enough for several Malfoy generations."

"I like to do something with my time, Kaitlyn."

"You are so dedicated." Sighed Kaitlyn, now stroking Draco's blonde locks.

Draco had had enough and so he physically pushed Kaitlyn's hands from himself. "Hermione do you want to dance?" He asked desperately, he needed to get away from the other woman.

Kaitlyn who seemed to have just realised that Hermione was there scowled at Draco but before she could say anything Hermione agreed to dance with Draco and the two of them headed, hand-in-hand, towards the floor. A slow song had just started playing so Hermione brought her hands up behind Draco's neck, while he rested his on her waist. They began swaying slowly to the music, unaware there were quite a few pairs of eyes watching them, one of these being Rita Skeeter's.

"Thanks for that, Granger." Draco said quietly.

"For what?" Asked Hermione

"For getting me away from that slut, did you see her, have some decency at least, you're in public!"

Hermione laughed silently. "I don't think she's the only one"

"What do you mean?"

"More than half the female population here has their eyes on you"

"Can they help it? I'm so handsome, what else do you expect Granger?" Draco stated arrogantly.

"How do you walk with such a big head?" Asked Hermione, laughing once again.

She didn't know what was wrong with her. Maybe it was the champagne, it had to be because there was no way in hell, she thought Malfoy was funny.

"So, Ganger, are you part of that half of the female population?"

"No, I don't think I am. You'll never really be anything more to me than a pureblood ferret, Malfoy."

"That hurt, Hermione, and here I was thinking you were in love with me." Said Draco, in mock hurt.

"When hell freezes over."

"Come on! Admit it you've got to be proud you're with the most eligible bachelor of the decade."

"That would be Harry, and so no I can't be proud of that."

"Excuse me?" Draco had stopped dancing and was merely holding her now. "What did you say?"

"I said that I can't be proud..." Replied Hermione.

"No-no... before that."

"That Harry is the most eligible bachelor of the decade."

"But Potter's married! You're crazy Granger, how can he be a bachelor?"

"He was the most-"

"Exactly, he may have been, I don't even know why you would think that. I mean all he did was kill the Dark Lord and save the wizarding world. So what? He's still uglier than I am."

"So, you mean to tell me." Said Hermione sceptically. "That you think you are the most eligible bachelor?"

"Well, yes." Said Draco, speaking as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Hermione threw her head back and laughed. She laughed so much that Draco actually got frightened she might be going crazy. But then when she didn't stop, Draco dragged her off the dance floor and pushed her into a chair. She was gasping for breath as Draco told her firmly to shut up. She grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing house elf and downed the glass in one shot. Draco stared, was Granger drunk?

"Granger, are you drunk?" He asked cautiously.

"I don't know," She replied. "I think I am."

"How many glasses of champagne did you have?"

"That was my fifth no sixth I think-"

"We need to get you home."

"But I don't want to go home. No one else is going-"

"It doesn't matter. You'll do something stupid, and Rita Skeeter is somewhere here."

"I want to stay."

"Granger." Said Draco in a warning tone Hermione usually used with Nick. "We have to go home."

"Fine."

It was eleven o' clock already and some people had started to leave, so they wouldn't look odd. Getting Hermione to the exit was not as easy as it sounded because he was trying to avoid a few selected people. When he finally made his way outside, their carriage pulled up at the bottom of the steps and he helped Hermione into it. She was singing some weird muggle song all the way home and he put a silencing charm on her when they got home, both out of annoyance and as to not wake up his mother or Nick.

Hermione was rather upset about this and pouted all the way back to their bedroom. When they got there, however, she did something unexpected. Draco was making his way to the bathroom to change when Hermione grabbed his shoulder, turned him around and brought her lips crashing down onto his. She kissed him passionately while he stood there, rooted to the spot, his eyes wide with surprise. It wasn't until Hermione slipped her tongue into his mouth that he came to his senses. He gently pushed her off him and the upset look on Hermione's face made him almost regret it. But he knew it was for the best.

"Don't you like me anymore, Draco?" She asked pouting.

"Well...that's a tough question but believe me, when you wake up in the morning, you'll regret doing that."

And with that he went into the bathroom to change, this time he was not interrupted.