text stringlengths 0 57.5k |
|---|
"You've met my mother. You hang out with Daphne and Tracey. Do any of them seem like the submissive type? My mother lied to the Dark Lord to his face to save Harry and to get to me." |
Hermione admitted that submissive was not a trait to be found in Narcissa Malfoy. She sat there staring into the flames in the fireplace in the study. Draco was tense as he waited to hear what decision she was going to come to about this. If she decided it was sexist and demeaning to women, then she'd take on a thousand years of Slytherin tradition and get it stopped. |
He hoped she didn't. For him, it wasn't being a sexist, which of course he would think that way; he was a man after all. For him, it was about treating a woman like she was special. When he was younger, that hadn't included witches outside his own house. Now, things were different. The birth of feminism didn't have to mean that chivalry was dead. You could still hold a chair out for a woman and be interested in her thoughts and opinions. |
"I want you to give me your honest opinion," she said finally, "You talk about being Rose's father. So, my question is would you want Rose to be treated this way when she goes to Hogwarts? Would you want some boy ladling soup into her bowl or pouring her juice? I don't really have a problem with the other stuff but I'm having a hard time accepting this." |
"I can't say that I'm all that thrilled about her being around boys, but yes. Yes, I would be fine with a boy or boys doing that for her. I remember you telling me about the time in third year when Harry and Ron were mad at you about the broom and no one talked to you until they got over it. That wouldn't have happened in Slytherin house. You wouldn't have been left to fend for yourself. And come on, a wizard wants to wait on you hand a foot. What's so bad about that?" |
"Why don't you serve my food for me then?" Hermione asked. |
"I had a feeling you'd hex my balls off if I tried. I do as much as I think you'll allow me. If you want, we could give it a try and see how you like it. It would give you some perspective." |
"So you're saying Draco Malfoy would be willing to wait on Hermione Granger. That sounds intriguing." She had that glint in her eyes that he knew by now meant she was going to have fun with this little experiment of theirs. |
"The ball is tomorrow," Draco said at dinner. |
He had served Hermione and Rose at dinner. He did not serve Tansy. She'd never been comfortable with that custom and had politely requested he stop years ago or she would start eating in the kitchen. Rose got a little bit of everything with her roast cut up into small bites for her. |
Hermione got the leanest slices of roast beef since he knew she didn't like the fat. No roasted carrots since he knew she didn't like them. Extra green beans and roasted potatoes. And a roll to wipe up the gravy with. She'd looked impressed when he levitated her plate to her. |
"Yes. I have to say, I'm looking forward to it," she said. She took a bite of the roast beef and made a small moan at the taste. He loved watching her eat. |
"Mum is excited about it. She refused to tell me anything about the dress you bought during your little shopping excursion," he prodded curiously. |
He'd tried getting the information out of Hermione and his mother. Then Ginny, who only smirked at him. Tracey, Daphne, and Helena had all been equally unhelpful. He'd tried using needing to get jewelry for Hermione as a tactic. His mother brought him the emeralds from the vault at the Manor instead of telling him. He'd never been this intrigued by a dress in his entire life. |
Hermione smiled a little mysteriously at him, "You'll just have to wait until tomorrow to see." |
Draco pouted a little at this. "Thanks for helping my mother with the ball. She does it every year but this one seems to mean a little more to her." |
His mother loved Hermione. She loved that Hermione had forgiven her all those years ago. She loved that Draco was with her and that Hermione turned out to be his soul mate. She adored Rose and couldn't wait to shower Minerva with affection. She was thrilled that Hermione had taken an interest in planning the 12th Annual Malfoy Christmas Charity Ball. |
His mother had started the ball after her release from house arrest. She'd wanted to help the widows and orphans affected by the war. It had turned into just helping those in need as the years went on, making sure that poor children could afford to go to Hogwarts. His mother had thought it was tacky to "fundraise" by auctioning off things or charging for a meal. Donors simply handed a house elf a bag of galleons when they arrived. No specific amounts were asked for, just what the invitee was willing to give. |
"I was happy to help her. It's a very special cause and a very special night," Hermione said, looking at him meaningfully before popping a green bean in her mouth. |
Draco couldn't help but grin at her emphasis on the word "special." "Very special indeed," he said. |
This was the first ball in a long time Draco was actually excited about attending. Hermione left early that morning for a spa day with his mother, Ginny, Daphne, Tracey, and Helena. The plan was to get massages, manicures, pedicures, and generally relaxed into a state of bliss. After that, makeup and hair stylists would get them ready before sending them back home to dress. Draco had been forbidden to see Hermione until just before they left for the ball. Draco was glad the girls had asked his mother to come along and got to be a part of the fun. There weren't many ladies that his mother associated with and he thought most of those weren't real friends anyway. |
The absence of Hermione left Draco and Rose to get into their own mischief to while away the hours. He took her to the park to fly around, first with him on his broom and then on her own. She practiced catching a snitch. Draco also started teaching her to play the other Quidditch positions. Since she could catch a snitch, catching a quaffle would be easy enough. He tossed a Nerf ball to her while she balanced on her broom then as she flew around. |
They played in the park until it was time for lunch. Tansy had gone to the Manor to help with the preparations for the ball, so Draco was left to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for him and Rose. An overabundance of strawberry jelly led to a mess of monumental proportions all over the kitchen countertops. He laughed a lot as Rose tried licking the jelly off the countertops. It was hard getting her to stop since she wasn't taking him seriously. He put Rose down for her nap after cleaning her up and the kitchen. He had a feeling Tansy would throw something at him if he left a mess in her kitchen. |
Left to his own devices until Rose woke up and it was time to take her to Molly's, Draco made his own preparations for the night. Hermione had said that tonight was "special" which meant that she expected it to end in only one way. Bouquets of red and orange roses were levitated into her room and placed on either side of her dressing table. Draco respected her private space and only stayed in the doorway. He desperately wanted to find the dress in the closet. |
He tried to read. He kept staring down at the same page but never taking in a word that was written. The excitement and the nerves were really starting to get to him. No matter how many times he tried telling himself it was just a ball, it just wouldn't work. It wasn't just a ball. It wasn't even about the blasted ball. |
It was about the next stage of their relationship. It was about finally being with her. He was excited and nervous. More nervous than his first time with Pansy. More excited than on his wedding night. It wasn't fair to either lady and he knew that. Astoria would've understood. This was Hermione. This was his soul mate, the woman he'd waited his whole life for. After everything that had happened to her, she deserved a spectacular night and he was determined not to disappoint. |
Finally, after hours of waiting and preparing, it was almost time. Almost time to see Hermione. Almost time to leave for the ball, to dance the night away, to return home for other delights. He adjusted the emerald cufflinks one last time and picked up the jewelry box that held the necklace and earrings that his mother picked out to go with her dress. |
He waited for Hermione at the foot of the stairs, clutching the black velvet box in his hands. He turned in his pacing and there she was standing at the top of the stairs. The box slid out of his hands and hit the floor with a thunk and a jingle of protesting jewels. |
She was exquisite. Her hair was piled high on her head with her curls artfully arranged around two emerald hair combs, exposing the line of her neck with tendrils of curls framing her face and extenuated her elegant beauty. |
The dress looked like it had been made with her in mind. The dress was a floor-length emerald green satin that just begged to be touched. The strapless, sweetheart neckline dipped low and accentuated the fullness of her breasts. The mermaid style dress was tight against her hips before it flared out to the floor. Every beautiful curve was shown off to perfection. He wanted to fall to his knees and worship her for the goddess she was. |
An amused laugh brought him back to the realization that he'd been staring and probably with his mouth hanging open. "You...you look stunning," he stammered. |
She tucked a red rose into his buttonhole and said, "You look pretty stunning yourself." |
Her black-gloved hands smoothed down the front of his tuxedo. He couldn't stop staring at her. The black of her gloves made the cuff at her wrist stand out and sparkle in the light. It was there on display for all the world to see. Their claim on each other. |
"You dropped something," she said. |
He looked down and remembered the fallen jewelry. He picked up the box and opened it for her to see. Her gasp of surprise causing a grin to break out on his face. He took out the necklace and walked behind her to drape it around her neck and fasten it. The large, teardrop emerald lay just above her cleavage with pear-shaped diamonds in decreasing size circling her neck. He handed her the simple matching emerald studs to slide into her ears. |
He ran his fingertips lightly across the creamy flesh of her exposed shoulders. She shivered against him. He pulled her back against him, kissing her behind her ear. She ground that sweet ass of hers against his painfully hard erection. |
He bit lightly on her earlobe and growled low in her ear, "Don't tease me, witch. It's taking all the self-control I have not to throw your skirts up and fuck you against that wall." |
She turned and looked up at him with heavy-lidded eyes. He could smell her desire intertwined with her floral perfume. A soft hand slid up the tent in his trousers causing him to throw back his head and groan, thrusting into her hand. All too soon the teasing hand was gone. |
"We need to go. I promised your mum we wouldn't be late," she said stepping back from him with a teasing grin. |
He grabbed her hand and put it back where he wanted her touch most. "You're such a cruel temptress," he whined. |
"The sooner we leave, the sooner we'll be back," she said, laughing, squeezing him a little and pulling her hand away. |
That galvanized him into action. He pulled on her arm and drug her into the drawing room to the fireplace with indecent haste wanting now more than ever to get this ball over with. He'd waited long enough to be with her. He could hear her mumbling behind him about sticking charms and corsets not being comfortable to run in. He threw a pinch of Floo powder into the fireplace and said, "Malfoy Manor, Receiving Room." With an arm around Hermione, they were both gone to the ball. |
They arrived in the receiving room of Malfoy Manor to find his mother waiting to greet the guests. His mother looked regal in her midnight blue gown with a silver lace overlay. After brushing the ash from Hermione and himself, he walked forward and kissed his mother on the cheek. |
"You look beautiful as always, Mother," he said. |
"Thank you, darling. You look quite handsome as well," she said before turning to Hermione, "You, my dear, look stunning. I knew that dress was perfect for you as soon as I saw it. Don't you think so, Draco?" |
"Absolutely exquisite, mother," Draco answered. |
"Thank you both," Hermione said, "You look amazing, Narcissa. What can we do to help?" |
"Well, since you offered, you both can help greet guests as they arrive. The house elves will take their donations and put them away." |
Draco groaned inwardly at being stuck in the receiving line. He sent Turvy to find him a glass of scotch to make the endless schmoozing more bearable. The three of them greeted each guest that came through the fireplace for the next forty-five minutes. |
He watched Hermione as she charmed the guests. She greeted most of them by name and always had some personal question to ask those she knew, often startling those outside of their circle that she would not only remember their names but also would remember some small detail from a previous conversation or ask after their children or grandchildren. She could've been born to the life of a society wife, groomed from birth, much like his mother, with the effortless way she seemed to charm the people around her. He was glad she wasn't though. Being a society wife would've bored Hermione to tears. |
Eventually, they were released to go mingle before the dancing started. They made their way to the ballroom where everyone was gathering. Their friends were all gathered together talking and sipping on champagne. It was surreal seeing the group gathered together and comfortable. Slytherins and Gryffindors getting along with one another, rising above house rivalries like they'd never been able to do as teenagers. |
"There you two are. We were beginning to think you had snuck away to snog in a dark corner," Blaise said, earning him an elbow from his wife. |
"No such luck," Draco said. He'd tried too. He also tried convincing Hermione that they could Floo back home without anyone noticing. |
"Hermione, that's quite a bracelet you have on there," Harry said. |
The group turned, seemingly as one, all interested in the cuff on Hermione's arm that very clearly had the Malfoy crest on it. Draco looked down at Hermione just as she looked up at him biting on her lip. Clearly, she was worried about how much to reveal to their friends in such a public setting. |
"Well...you see, Draco and I..." Hermione said. |
"Draco, Hermione, there you are. The band is ready to start and I'd like you two to open the ball up," his mother said, thank goodness for interruptions. |
"Duty calls," Draco said to their friends, taking Hermione's hand in his and leading her to the center of the dance floor. |
Draco spun Hermione into position flaring her dress out around her in a swish of satin and bowed formally over her hand. Hermione sunk into a deep curtsy smiling mischievously up at him and affording him an enticing view of her cleavage. She rose and placed her left hand on his shoulder, very clearly displaying her cuff with the Malfoy crest on it. |
Draco recognized the familiar start of Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty Waltz. Draco led Hermione through turns and lifts of the waltz. Draco noted out of his periphery that other couples had joined them on the dance floor. He only had eyes for the witch in his arms though. She was mouthing words in time to the beat of the music. |
Curious he asked, "What are you singing?" |
"It's a song from the Disney version of this piece. I must have watched the cartoon a thousand times growing up." |
"How does it go?" he asked. |
"I know you, I walked with you once upon a dreamI know you, the gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleamYet I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seemBut if I know you, I know what you'll doYou'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream," she sang as they danced. |
"Beautiful. And very true," Draco said as the waltz ended. |
Draco smiled at the blush on Hermione's cheeks at his words as he bowed low over her hand again kissing her knuckles. "Do you want to keep dancing or should we go sate our friends" curiosity?" he asked. |
"We won't be able to hold them at bay much longer," Hermione said, "I don't think tonight is the best time for that conversation though." |
Draco nodded his agreement. He led them back to where their friends had congregated once again, snatching two flutes of champagne from a passing house elf. |
"You two dance beautifully together," Tracey said as they joined the group. |
Ginny pierced Hermione with a look as she murmured their thanks, "What's with the bracelet, Hermione?" Gotta love Gryffindor directness, Draco thought. |
"It's a family piece," Hermione said, not exactly lying but not revealing the whole truth. Very Slytherin of her. |
"Is there something you need to tell us, Draco?" Theo asked. |
"Not at this exact moment, no," Draco said, knowing that Theo was expecting some sort of engagement announcement as a means to explain the cuff. |
"The soul seeks one who mirrors its own," Luna intoned dreamily beside them. |
"Erm, quite right Luna," Hermione said, "You are looking lovely tonight." |
Draco privately thought he might need sunglasses if he had to keep looking at the strange witch. Luna was wearing a breezy, sunshine yellow dress that fell in gauzy layers to the floor. Combined with her blond hair and pale complexion, the effect was a bit of an eyesore. |
"Thank you, Hermione. I love yellow. It keeps the wrackspurts away and it is their mating season, you know. Slytherin looks good on you." |
Draco inhaled the sip of his champagne and choked, earning him a sharp look from Hermione. The rest of the group chuckled, not really reading anything into Luna's odd ramblings. |
The house elf came around again and Draco passed around fresh glasses. |
"Just sparkling water for me, thanks," Ginny said. The elf handed her a flute of water. |
"Ginny?" Hermione asked. |
Draco noted that while everyone was distracted by the interplay with Hermione, Ginny, and Harry the elf discreetly replaced Daphne's champagne with water as well. |
"It's really all your fault, Hermione. All those girls" nights," Ginny said. |
Hermione screamed in delight, jumping up and down, and throwing her arms around her two friends. "Oh my God! Congratulations! I hope it's a girl this time." |
Draco lifted his glass and eyed Theo and Daphne as well, "A toast to new life." |
The group raised their glasses and toasted the Potters" good fortune. Theo and Daphne could keep their secret for now. He knew they had been trying for years without success and would want to keep it a secret for a little while until they were sure this time would stick. He'd thought they'd given up and sent up a prayer that they'd get their wish this time. |
His mother found them again. She went around the group greeting them all again, kissing Ginny on both cheeks in congratulations, touching Daphne's hand lightly, tipping Hannah's chin up with a quiet "Your time will come soon," a hug for Tracey and Helena, and whispered words to Luna. |
"Mother, may I have this dance?" Draco asked. |
"Surely you want to dance with Hermione," his mother protested. |
"Oh, no. I'm going to sit this one out and go in search of a powder room," Hermione said. |
"See Mother, now you really must dance with me," Draco said, leading his mother out onto the dance floor. |
Draco stood with his mother on one side and Hermione on the other on the raised dais that the band was situated on. |
"Thank you all for coming tonight and supporting our annual charity ball. This ball started out for my mother and myself as a way to make reparations for our part in the war and we are happy that it has become an annual event that draws such good people who want to help those less fortunate. The proceeds from this year's ball will fund scholarships for underprivileged children going to Hogwarts. As our last song for the night, I have requested something from my own years at Hogwarts. During our fourth year for my friends and I, we were lucky enough to attend the Yule Ball as a part of the Triwizard Tournament. That particular ball brought about a stunning revelation for me that has brought a new happiness to my life along with many new friendships. Please grab a partner and join Hermione and me on the dance floor for the last dance of the night." |
Draco took Hermione's hand and led her once again to the center of the dance floor. Their friends all joined them in the inner circle of the dance floor. Harry grumbled good-naturedly about once being more than enough for that dance. |
"I've been waiting to dance this with you for nineteen years," Draco said, remembering her in a different gown, just as beautiful but in a different, more innocent, way. |
"Better late than never," Hermione said to him, "I can't wait to get you alone though." |
Draco grinned at her as he lifted and spun her, "Have I told you that you look like a Christmas present?" |
"Are you ready to unwrap your present then?" Hermione asked impishly. |
Draco waggled his eyebrows at her, "So ready." |
He had purposely maneuvered them to the doors of the ballroom and they slipped out just as the song ended and raced away to the Floo. |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.