Disclaimer: I don’t own any of these characters, just the storyline. Characters are all property of the amazing J.K. Rowling.
A/N: First of all, an absolutely massive thank you to all of my reviewers, you guys are amazing, and you’re the reason why I keep on writing this story. Another thing: I know that I’ve been pumping out the chapters really quickly, but that’s just because it is the weekend. During the week I should be able to get a couple of updates done, but not as many as I have been getting done this weekend. Anyway, without further ado: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
***
Three weeks past in a relatively normal fashion. Hermione and Ron had gotten back together, and Ron had been careful what he said around her. Malfoy and Hermione had gone back to keeping a civil tongue and had not been conversing much since the potions lesson when Ron had apologized. All the students had finally gotten back into the grind of Hogwarts.
One evening, on the final weekend of September Hermione sat in the Great Hall for dinner with Ron, Harry and Ginny. Halfway through the meal, Professor McGonagall stood up and cleared her throat. The hall fell silent as the many heads turned towards her, both concerned and fascinated at what she had to say – the headmaster, or headmistress in this case, rarely spoke up at a normal dinner.
“Quiet, please,” McGonagall started, glaring at the few students who still talked. “As you all know, Halloween is approaching. This year, we will be taking a different approach to the celebration. The feast will be cancelled, and instead it will be replaced by a masquerade ball.” The hall broke into excited whispers, which caused McGonagall to smile very slightly. “In preparation for the ball,” she continued, raising her voice above the noise, “there will be Hogsmede visits each weekend leading up to the ball, in order for you all to buy the necessary robes and masks. Unfortunately, the ball will be similar to the Yule Ball, in the sense that only students in fourth year and above may come, unless they are asked by an older student. If you have any questions, our Head Boy, Mr Malfoy, and Head Girl, Ms Granger, will be more than obliging to answer your questions.” McGonagall resumed her seat and the hall broke out into loud conversation.
Beside Hermione, Harry had turned around to face Ginny.
“Will you go to the ball with me, beautiful?” he asked, causing Ginny to blush wildly. She agreed immediately and they kissed to much whooping at the Gryffindor table.
Hermione turned away to face Ron who was eating. He noticed her looking at him and raised his eyebrows.
“What?”
Hermione rolled her eyes. “Well?”
“Well what?” Ron asked, looking at Hermione as if she was stupid.
“Ugh, forget it, Ronald. I’m going back to my common room,” Hermione snapped, standing up abruptly to the confusion of Ron. She strode out of the Great Hall fuming, though she knew she was being ridiculous. Ron would automatically assume that because they were dating they would go to the ball together, but it was still nice to be asked. She felt herself grow jealous at the relationship Ginny and Harry shared and how sweet he was to her.
“Bassinet,” she said wearily, reaching Eve who was trying to control her screaming baby. The painting swung open to admit her, and Hermione went straight for the kitchen where she threw together a cup of tea. She sat down at one of the tables in the common room, rolled out her Charms essay and just started working when the portrait hole swung open and Malfoy came in.
“Why’d you leave the Hall in such a huff, Granger?” he drawled as he flopped onto a couch.
“None of you business, Malfoy,” Hermione said through gritted teeth.
“Sure, whatever. If you’re not going to answer that question, what was all the whooping coming from your table after McGonagall stopped talking?”
Hermione sighed. “It was just Harry and Ginny, nothing exciting.”
Malfoy shrugged and sat down across from her at the table, pulling out his Charms essay as well. Hermione was surprised to see it was half done.
“So you’ll be going with the Weasel, I assume,” Malfoy said, his quill scratching along the parchment – his writing was tall, slanted and very neat.
“I don’t know. I’m sure Ronald assumes we’re going together because we’re going out, but he hasn’t asked me. Who are you going with?” Hermione kept her eyes on her essay, sucking on the end of her quill as she thought about what to write next.
“I’m not sure who I’ll go with yet, but there’s plenty of time to win a girl over with the Slytherin charm. So Weasel hasn’t asked you? And I take it you want him to?”
“Oh yes, that famed Slytherin Sex God charm. And no, Ronald hasn’t asked me, but I would like him to. I almost want someone else to ask me so I can go with them to demonstrate to him that being asked is exactly what I want,” Hermione explained as she finished her essay. She waved her wand over it and the ink dried immediately.
“Bitter, much? I take it Potter asked Weaselette?”
“Fine, I’m a bit bitter, and yes, that would be because Harry asked Ginny, and Ronald had no idea what my problem was when he didn’t ask me.” Hermione put her Charms essay to the side and decided to start work on the four Ancient Runes translations they had to have done by the next lesson. Malfoy evidently finished his Charms work as well, because he scooted around beside her with his Ancient Runes out as well.
The two worked on their translations in silence for a little while.
“What would you do if I asked you?” Malfoy asked suddenly, placing his quill down. Hermione’s eyes widened.
“And why would you do that?” she asked, sensing something fishy.
“For the fun of it, and because it would get to Weasel. If you wanted to make a point and annoy him, then there is no better person to go with than me. He absolutely loathes me.”
“I hope you know that you are absolutely diabolical. I couldn’t do that to Ronald anyway,” Hermione shrugged.
“Fine, but my offer remains until I get a date,” Malfoy shrugged. He, having finished his translations, packed up his books and completed homework. “I’m going to bed, see you in the morning, Granger.”
Hermione nodded slightly, finished writing the last part of her translation and yawned. Checking the clock which hung on the wall, she was surprised to see it was almost midnight. She packed up her work and went to take a shower before sliding beneath the covers with her copy of Hogwarts, A History.
***
“Morning, Ginny. Where are the boys?” Hermione asked her friend as she sat beside her at breakfast the next morning. She stifled a yawn and reached for her goblet of pumpkin juice.
“Being lazy. Neither of them are very interested in going to Hogsmede today. Are you going?”
“Yeah, I need some new dress robes and a mask for the ball. And I wouldn’t mind getting some butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks. Care to join me?” Hermione queried.
“Sounds good. I need some new robes as well. Are you going with Ron?” Ginny took a sip of coffee and eyed her friend who flushed pink.
“Well he hasn’t asked me, but I expect Ronald will expect me to go with him. I wish he’d ask,” sighed Hermione.
Ginny laughed. “You know Ron, he’s utterly hopeless. If he doesn’t ask you, then I reckon you should just go with someone who does ask you.”
“That’s easy for you to say. You’ve got Harry who would do anything for you. He asked you as soon as McGonagall broke the news,” Hermione retorted.
“True, but if Ron is being a prat about it, then just go with whoever asks you. I’m sure you’re bound to get countless offers,” Ginny shrugged. “I’m going to go and get my bag. I’ll meet you outside, ‘kay?”
Hermione nodded and finished eating her breakfast before grabbing her bag and tossing on a jacket. Autumn had struck with a vengeance, and the weather was already fairly cool with vicious winds. Hermione met Ginny outside the school and the two of them walked to Hogsmede together, chatting freely about boys, school and the upcoming ball.
“Ooh, let’s go into Gladrags. Pavarti said they had some really pretty robes in there, and they apparently got a whole heap of new masks just for our ball!” Ginny exclaimed, dragging Hermione in. It was fairly empty, and the shelter was a welcome change from the wind which had flustered all the students on their way down to the village.
As soon as Hermione stepped through the door, Ginny nearly threw several different sets of dress robes at her. After much harrumphing and trying on, Hermione finally tried on the one set which that made Ginny squeal with delight and happiness.
The dress was short and ended just below Hermione’s mid-thigh. They were sparkly and silver with a blue sash around the middle of the same shimmery material.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit...short?” Hermione pursed her lips as she stared at her reflection.
“Nonsense, it’s absolutely gorgeous! Try these shoes on with it!” Ginny handed Hermione a pair of blue heels which matched the sash perfectly. Hermione slipped them on and decided she would never doubt Ginny’s fashion sense again. The entire outfit worked perfectly, and she felt sexier than ever.
After Ginny had bought a floor-length pale gold dress and some shoes to match, the girls both bought some stunning Venetian masks before braving the wind again as they stepped out into the midday sun.
“Shall we get something to drink?” Hermione suggested and Ginny agreed immediately. The two of them went straight in the Three Broomsticks and fought to get a table for two in the corner. Ginny went up to order the two butterbeers, and while Hermione sat by herself thinking over her purchases for the day, the door swung open and Draco Malfoy, accompanied by Blaise Zabini, entered, scouring the room for a table. Malfoy caught Hermione’s eye and winked, causing her to blush and smile at him.
Ginny returned and placed a mug of hot butterbeer in front of Hermione, snapping her out of her daydream.
“What were you looking at?” Ginny asked, looking in the direction Hermione had been staring. She saw Malfoy and her eyes widened. “Malfoy? Really, Hermione?”
“Shut up, we’re just friends,” Hermione smiled as she playfully pushed her friend. Ginny rolled her eyes but dropped the topic.
After finishing their drinks, they both decided it was time to go back up to the castle.
“Do you want to come up to the Gryffindor common room? Ron would like to see you, and Harry too,” Ginny offered as they climbed the steps into the entrance of Hogwarts.
“Yeah, that sounds good. Just come with me to drop off my new things, and then I’ll come with you.”
After a quick visit to Hermione’s dormitory, the two of them headed to the Gryffindor common room.
“Pumpkin,” Ginny said to the Fat Lady who swung forward to let the girls in. The two of them found their boyfriends playing a heated game of chess by the fire, and they decided to watch.
“Hey, Mione. How was Hogsmede?” Ron asked, kissing her cheek once she was seated next to him.
“You know I don’t like that name, Ron,” Hermione frowned. “The village was good. I got some robes for the ball and Ginny and I went to the Three Broomsticks for a little while.”
“What colour are your robes?” Ron feigned interest as he check-mated Harry who swore loudly. Ginny cut her boyfriend off by kissing him and cuddling into his side.
“Silver with a blue sash. They’re really pretty. Ginny found them for me,” Hermione said, casting a warm smile at her red-headed friend who was leaning into Harry.
“Oh...I don’t think they’re going to match my robes then,” Ron said, frowning at Hermione. “You might need to get different ones.”
“What?” Hermione yelled, attracting the attention of the rest of the common room as she jumped up. “Those robes cost an arm and a leg and I love them. If you’re so concerned about us not matching, then you can buy some different robes.”
“I shouldn’t have to buy different robes,” Ron said indignantly, the Weasley stubborn streak showing. “Just go back into Gladrags and make a change for a different colour.”
“I will do no such thing. Obviously my fashion sense doesn’t agree with you, so I’ll just have to find someone else to go with. Besides, you didn’t even ask me to the ball,” Hermione snapped, turning and striding out of the common room, leaving a dumbfounded Ron behind her.
***
“Malfoy, does your offer still stand?” Hermione asked that night as her and Draco sat at the dining table that night. Hermione, not willing to face Ron, had cooked up some pork chops, much to Draco’s surprise.
“The offer for the ball? Yes, yes it does. Are you thinking of accepting, Granger?” he asked, smirking at her between mouthfuls.
“Not thinking of accepting, I am accepting. Ronald is being an imbecile about this whole thing, so I’m taking you up on your offer,” Hermione explained. She kept her eyes on her plate to avoid seeing Malfoy’s expression.
“Well then, it would be my pleasure to accompany you to the masquerade ball on Halloween,” he said, sarcasm tainting his tone.
“Thank you,” was all Hermione said in response, and they lapsed into silence for the rest of the night.
***
A/N: Voila, here it is! I hope you all enjoy it. Please R&R, it makes me smile, and I hope you enjoy. I’ll hopefully be able to get another chapter up very soon, but I’m making no guarantees.
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