57So here it is children. My newest story, another fine fanfic of Dramione love. lol. This was hard to work on, because my minds constantly in Surrender gear, so to switch back and forth between the two, it's complicated.
I do hope that you all enjoy it. Surrender's still going kids so never fear, theres still so much left uncovered. But don't be surprised when a twist comes that knocks your socks right off.
Anyway enough about Surrender, more about Cinderella Moment. This is a fic set in their last year, and I still haven't finished Deathly Hallows, so it won't in anyway be compatible to it. lol. Read and review and tell me how much you love it, or how much you dont. Always adore you readers and every single word you have to say.
Disclaimer: Once upon a time there was a crazy girl that wrote stories based on Harry Potter, but sadly she was not JK. The end.
Cinderella Moment
Complicated Steps
The sun was setting outside, the sky turning a multitude of shades, but it all went unnoticed. She was too busy pouring over the essay that was due next week for Binns. She flipped through her History of Magic text with one hand while she scribbled down some random facts on a scrap piece of parchment. The light with a pinkish tint that cascaded through the open curtains of the window proved an unsuitable distraction.
Hermione Granger was currently located in her own private bedroom with a door accessing a bathroom, in the coveted Heads Dorm. She'd received the position that year, after working so hard the first six years of her attendance. She'd kept her grades the highest of all the students in her year, along with surviving three headed dogs, Dementors, giant snakes, and Death Eaters.
When the letter arrived laden with the shinning silver badge her eyes had brimmed with tears. She'd been staying in the burrow, helping Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen upon Errol's crash. She'd picked the bird up, placing him beside the perch after grabbing the handful of mail that had arrived. Most of it was addressed to the Weasley's since it was their home, but one of the two envelopes addressed to guests was that of her school list and letter.
A party had been thrown that evening in her honour. There had been much laughing and smiling at that table. It was a chance for them all, even the adults to forget the problems of the world around them. They were left to think about Hermione and her accomplishment, knowing that in the end this would be the last time any of them would have moments like this for a while.
As the pink and orange gave way to blue and violet Hermione rolled up the parchment, finished. She rose from the desk and stretched her arms above her head, smiling at the feel of the release of tension at the cracks her back made. She'd been working since she'd finished classes and it was time to go down and reward her hard work with some well-deserved food.
Grabbing her wand off the desktop she started for the door of her bedroom. She'd changed out of her robes and school uniform after classes ended, preferring to be comfortable as she worked. The soles of her black and white polka dotted flats tapped lightly on the stairs as she started down into the common room of the dorm that she shared with the Head Boy.
Hermione had changed greatly from the bossy girl she'd been in her first year. She was still just as bossy, feeling that was the only way that they'd survived sometimes. But her looks were completely different, a change she hadn't minded. After her fourth year she began to style her hair, liking the reactions that she received. It now cascaded down her back in large spiral curls with bangs swept over to one side. It was so full of body and shine that it bounced with her every move and caught the light in such a way that it seemed to change colours.
Instead of wearing the uncomfortable jumpers she'd worn all the time she now showed off the attractive and curvy body that Mother Nature had blessed her with. She wore jeans that fit snuggly to her hips waist and thighs, but flared a little at the bottom. Her simple black tank top was covered with a short bell sleeved white satin button up shirt. The bottom three buttons were done up and a thick red belt was wrapped about her to accentuate her thin waist. She looked stylish, and simply beautiful, coming into her own style.
At the sound of her descending the stairs Draco, who had been sitting on the couch, turned glancing quickly at her. His nose wrinkled slightly in disgust but she didn't seem to notice the look that he was giving her, nor did she notice the Head Boy at all, choosing to ignore him all together.
'Damn Granger.' Draco thought irritated. He then turned his attention back to the book he had been reading.
Hermione continued through the common room and out the portrait hole. She continued all the way down to the Great Hall, humming softly to herself. Nothing had been able to bother her that day. She'd completed all her homework and her weekend would be free to do whatever she pleased. She and Ginny were planning on designing the perfect dresses that they would wear for the ball that was approaching soon. The Prefects were in charge of decorations and all plans for this ball because it was in honour of the Heads. It was a tradition that Hogwarts students above fourth year were invited to partake in and would be centered completely on Hermione and Draco.
As she bounced along, entering the Great Hall with a smile on her face she noticed that quite a few male heads lifted and eyes followed her. It was something she'd grown used to since the year before. Inside it made her smile that so many people noticed her now when in the beginning no one had really noticed her, that is except Ron.
She remembered how Ron had always noticed her, yet at the same time didn't. He'd always been there to point something out, some fault or annoying trait that she had, but only later did she realize that it was all due to his nervousness. After fourth year when Ron was obviously jealous of her relationship with Viktor Krum the international Quidditch star, she realized that he had feelings for her. They'd tried to have something for a short time during sixth year, but things didn't work out, but they remained friends. Ron moved on, finding happiness in a fourth year Ravenclaw, but Hermione still hadn't found anyone special that caught her attention. In fact, had it not been mandatory that Malfoy be her escort to the ball, she was sure that she would be going alone.
She approached the Gryffindor table where her friends were engaged in a conversation on their favourite subject, the sport they both enjoyed so much, Quidditch. Hermione had learned long ago to keep her Quidditch opinions to herself, for not knowing much about Quidditch, her opinions were worthless. That was one subject however Hermione had never cared to learn anymore about than necessary. She was content with the knowledge she'd acquired from watching Harry and now Ron play, and reading Quidditch Through the Ages.
"Evening Hermione." Ron said turning to smile at her, though he had a bit of something in his teeth.
Hermione notified him of this and his face flushed with embarrassment. He quickly removed the fragment of whatever it was that he'd been eating, and then turned to continue with his conversation.
"Really Hermione why'd you tell him, it was funnier." Harry said laughing, as Ron again turned red. But shortly after he was reaching beneath the table, grabbing the shin that Ron had abused merely a moment before.
"Do I have to separate you two?" Hermione said smiling good-naturedly at her two companions.
They looked down in mock shame at their behavior before they all in turn broke into fits of laughter. Most of the table had no idea what was happening, but they all joined in, the laughter contagious. Other house tables stared over at the Gryffindors wondering just what was so funny. But the humour was something that could never be explained.
"Where have you been all night?" Harry asked Hermione as his laughter subsided.
"Working on the essay for Professor Binns. Now I'm free to enjoy my weekend." She said as she began to gather things for her plate.
"Oh I still need to start that. Hermione do you mind if I borrow your notes?" Ron asked and Hermione sighed.
"You'll never learn." She said but he merely shrugged.
"Can I?"
"All right. I'll bring them to you later."
After a few minutes of silence, Harry asked Hermione the question that she knew one of the two would ask at some point. It was a question that they'd been asking since she'd arrived at school and moved into her new dorm.
"How are things with Malfoy?"
"Same as always Harry." Hermione said. "Won't you two give it a rest?"
"What do you mean? We're only looking out for you." The green-eyed boy said taking a sip of pumpkin juice.
"You ask every night how things are. I'll let you know if something's going on. But Harry he's not going to do anything. He can't."
"Hermione, we were certain that nothing would ever happen to Dumbledore, and look what happened there. I'm just saying, there's no way to trust him, he may have been cleared of all his charges, but he was still involved." Harry said eyeing the entrance to the Great Hall.
"I know Harry, I was there, and I know everything that you know. But he's not stupid enough to try anything where he'd be the only one implemented. He's clever, not stupid enough for something like that."
"That's just my point. He is clever, he is crafty, so he'd find ways around all that. If he really wanted to Hermione he could do anything."
Hermione scoffed. She knew that Draco Malfoy couldn't do anything to harm her, so she wasn't afraid. She'd never been afraid of him before, and she certainly wouldn't start then. But she decided to store what Harry said in the back of her mind, just in case.
She heard the sounds of whispers down the table and turned to where a few Gryffindor girls were giggling and talking behind their hands. She followed their wistful gazes and saw that none other than the Head Boy himself had walked in, sauntering over to the Slytherin table, the same smirk as always plastered across his face. She shook her head while rolling her eyes and turned back to her plate.
It was disgusting how most of the female population of Hogwarts threw themselves at Draco Malfoy the way they did. He was only a guy, a cocky arrogant despicable guy. But he wasn't even the only male that received large amounts of the female attention. Harry also got his fair share of swoons and sighs. He however was taken happily by Ginny Weasley. But Malfoy was single; accept of course to Pansy Parkinson who swore to everyone that he was in love with her. Hermione scoffed to herself.
'Malfoy couldn't love, it's against his genetic make up.'
Draco had entered the Great Hall, smirking at the reactions from most of the girls in the room. He loved the sound of them sighing, and whispering about him as he passed. He'd heard all the rumours, all the stories of his multiple affairs and he just laughed at them. He was a bit of a playboy. He could be found on any day of the week, snogging some girl in a broom cupboard somewhere in the school, but that was sometimes as far as it went. He'd been intimate before of course, but not with every girl he'd kissed.
Draco preferred the chase. He liked roping the girl in, getting her all riled up only to see her heart break before him. He was a heart breaker, in the literal sense of the term. He told them he loved them, but never did he love any of the silly little girls that he stayed with for a month or two. Their tears, their sobs, that was what he loved.
Seeing his friends he headed over, smiling at an unsuspecting Hufflepuff third year as he passed. He could hear her nervous giggles and his smile merely widened. Blaise, who'd been watching his approach had noticed the exchange and commented on it as he took his seat.
"Picking out your next victim?"
"Of course."
"Would you say it's accurate that you could have any girl in this school if you slipped her the right words?"
"It's possible. At this rate, I'll have had every girl." Draco said smiling as he loaded his plate.
"Well, kissed ever girl, you can't very well have them all if you don't sleep with them all." Blaise said smirking.
"Understandable. But that's purely disgusting. Some of the girls in this school are dirty, and there's no telling who's had them before me."
"Hi Draco!" Pansy called as she sat down beside him. Draco merely gave Blaise a look as if to say 'and here's my point'.
"Pansy." Draco said simply, not really paying her much mind.
Pansy Parkinson was a rather unattractive female Slytherin that had it in her head that Draco was hers. She'd been under that assumption for quite a few years and exhibited great jealousy whenever Draco had a new girlfriend or was showing interest in a particular girl. She'd even gone as far as to threaten some girls she'd seen talking to him one day. In her demented mind, she and Draco were to be married, and he actually loved her.
Draco had never harboured any feelings for the girl, so he wasn't quite sure where she'd developed such insane plans for their future. As mentioned previously he didn't love, a fact that Pansy refused to see. But he continued to let her believe the things she imagined because any time that he tried to tell her otherwise she either grew angry or cried. He couldn't stand to be around her at either times because the sound of her shouting or whining drove him crazy.
"So the Hufflepuff then?" Blaise said returning to their original conversation.
"Probably." Draco said turning his attention to his food, bored with the conversation.
"What are you doing this evening?" Blaise asked nonchalantly.
"Planned on reading a bit why?"
"It's time to start the new game for this year." Blaise whispered so only the few around him could hear, a devilish smile spreading across his tanned skin.
"Where should we meet?" Draco asked, his interest growing.
"Fourth floor, the empty classroom third in on the left." He said and they dropped the subject promptly.
Every year Draco and his friends partook in a game called Pranks. It was a game that they'd been playing since they were young, Blaise having made it up all those years ago one day when they were bored with the thousands of toys they had to play with. The basic premise of the game was that each of them was issued a name, and in turn had to prank that person. Originally it had been played using their names or the names of their family members and the pranks had been silly. But upon their entrance to school the game had become more vicious.
Draco and his friends had pranked other students in school, however the pranks were not silly but malicious. They usually involved humiliation or getting the person into loads of trouble. Harry Potter had been one of the first people to be pranked, when Draco had challenged him to a duel. However the prank backfired and Harry wasn't caught out of bed after curfew as Draco had tried to do.
The method of prank is entirely up to the pranker however there were consequences. If the person who was supposed to be pranked in turn isn't affected the way the prank was meant to go the pranker has to pay ten galleons to everyone else in the game.
Over the years the pranks were pulled, no one ever quite sure who it was that was causing all the trouble. When the Weasley twins still attended the school it was mostly blamed on them, something they didn't mind for it helped their reputations as troublemakers, however when the pranks continued after their departure in Draco's fifth year, people began to speculate. They hadn't been caught yet however.
As the dinner continued on Draco could hear spurts of laughter coming to him from the Gryffindors across the Great Hall. He looked over and saw them all conversing as if there wasn't a care in the world, the 'Golden Trio' as they had come to be called the center of it all. He watched as they shared their anecdotes, smiling and laughing as each one finished and the other began.
"Can you believe them?" Blaise asked seeing where his friend's attentions were focused.
"Oh I know what you mean Blaise. That Mudblood is so infuriating." Pansy said her face screwed up in a scowl.
"Pansy no one was speaking about the Mudblood." Blaise said.
"I was." She said shrugging.
"They act like alls right with the world. When they more than anyone know what's happening." Draco said his eyes still focused on the three friends. However his eyes lingered for a moment extra on the female, before they turned away.
"Who cares really?" Pansy said shoving her plate away. "I'm more interested in Draco's new position. What do you get to do now?"
"Whatever he wants of course." Blaise smiled teasingly.
"I have the pleasure of docking and awarding points when I see fit. Of course if I go over board I'll get into trouble, as little miss perfect reminded me the other night. I'm going to kill her by the end of this year Blaise I swear."
Blaise couldn't help but laugh at his friend's predicament. Eventually Draco joined in, realizing just how silly he sounded. The two's laughter was not as contagious or loud as the Gryffindors, but it did make some heads at their table turn. When they'd finished both rose, deciding to be the first of the group to head to the meeting place.
As Draco rose he noticed McGonagall heading towards Hermione and knew that any moment one of them would be making their way to where he was to relay whatever important news had just been learned. He paused for a moment and upon seeing Hermione turn around and glance at him quickly he knew she would be on her way in a moment.
"Come on, let's go." Draco said, deciding to make her chase him, for he had better things to do than wait around for her.
Draco and Blaise walked quickly toward the entrance hall. They walked in silence and as they exited the Great Hall the sounds of plate's knives and forks clattering about and many voices speaking at once died away. The clicks of their heels against the flag stone floor echoed softly off the walls.
"Malfoy!" he heard her voice cry just as his hand touched the banister of the grand staircase.
'Right on cue' he thought smiling to himself. He didn't turn immediately, but instead stood still, as if pondering whether or not he wanted to listen to whatever it was that she had to say. Though he never wanted to listen to what she had to say he knew that whatever it was it had come from McGonagall.
Turning on the spot and stepping down from the one step he'd made it up he approached her with an air of superiority. She was standing there, her curls shining in the torchlight. The satin shirt shimmered a bit in the light, the shadows dancing across her face. She was so much smaller than he, the top of her head barely reaching his chin. It made him feel more powerful.
"What is it Granger, I'm busy." He said disdainfully.
"McGonagall wants to see us soon. We have to be at her office by seven." She said simply.
Then he watched as she turned on her heel and walked away. Draco stared after her for a moment before turning away himself, heading to join Blaise who'd waited by the bottom of the stairs. Once they continued their journey toward the fourth floor and were sure that no one else was around did Draco tell Blaise what it was that Hermione had told him.
"What do you think it's about?" Blaise asked the Head Boy.
"Probably something about the ball. It's only next week." Draco stated.
"This is true. Too bad you have to take Granger." Blaise said sympathetically. "Who would you have taken?"
"Probably whichever of those stupid girls struck my fancy. It really wouldn't have mattered much to me at all." Draco shrugged as they entered the classroom and waited for the others to arrive.
It wasn't long after that Crabbe and Goyle made their way up to the classroom. Millicent and Pansy were the last to arrive and once they did Blaise closed and locked the door of the classroom with his wand. They were all situated in chairs or on desks, sitting in a semicircle around a familiar black leather pouch.
"Ok you all know the deal. There are six names in the pouch. Everyone picks a name, whoever you get you have to prank. We'll meet again when everyone's planned their pranks. Consequences are ten galleons each if you don't fulfill your prank. Got it?"
Everyone around him nodded and Blaise, using his wand, shook the bag and levitated it before Millicent. The girl reached in and pulled out a slip of parchment and left it folded. The pouch traveled around the circle, the last one to pick of course being Blaise. Once they all had slips they unfolded them, glancing for the first times at their victims.
"All right, starting with you Millicent."
"Trevor Briggs fourth year Hufflepuff."
"Arnold Spencer first year Ravenclaw." Crabbe said sniggering.
"Nancy Hendrix sixth year Ravenclaw." Goyle crumpled the paper and let it fall to the floor.
Draco unfolded his paper and stared at the name, a smile spreading on his face. This prank would be interesting indeed.
"Ginny Weasley sixth year Gryffindor."
"Hermione Granger seventh year Gryffindor." Pansy said smirking devilishly. It seemed that she was pleased with her choice.
"Henry Simpson third year Hufflepuff." He paused before picking up the pouch off the desk before him. "You have three days. Plan a prank, make it good, and announce it here on Monday. Seven sharp."
Discretely they left in the groups they'd arrived in. Pansy and Millicent were speaking in low excited whispers about their people. Draco noticed the glint in Pansy's eye and he knew that whatever she was planning was something she'd wanted to do for so long.
"Do you think it's the best plan to let Pansy have Granger as her victim? I mean there's a huge possibility that Pansy will actually try and kill her."
"At least we'd be rid of the Mudblood and Pansy all in one fell swoop."
Draco couldn't help but chuckle at the logic of that. It was then that he looked down at his watch and realized that he had to get going or he'd be late for his meeting with McGonagall. Bidding his friend farewell Draco hurried up one floor where McGonagall's office now resided. Instead of taking the office Dumbledore's death left wide open, McGonagall opted to take an empty classroom nearby and transform that into her office. It must have been too painful to enter that room.
Draco slowly approached the door checking his watch once more. He was right on time. Taking the knob in his hand he quickly knocked before turning it slowly and poking his head inside. Hermione was already seated in a chair before McGonagall's desk, but the Professor herself was nowhere in sight.
"Where's McGonagall?" he demanded throwing the door open wide.
"She stepped out a moment ago, she'll be right back." Hermione said without looking at him.
Draco sat himself down in the chair, impatiently tapping his fingers on the armrest. His thoughts lingered for a moment on the name that he'd pulled out of that pouch, and the name that Pansy had pulled out. He glanced at Granger out of the corner of his eye, smirking to himself. She wouldn't have any idea what hit her.
"Ah you've arrived Mr. Malfoy, good then we can get started." Professor McGonagall said as she entered closing the door behind her.
Draco turned his attention to the older woman who was now standing behind her desk, about to take her seat. However first she stared at the two, almost as if sizing them up for something. Draco was confused for a moment, but brushed it off as the Professor took her seat behind the desk.
"I've asked you both here because the circumstances of you two being our heads this year has caused some new developments to arise."
Hermione stared at the professor thoroughly confused.
"Hermione, can you tell me the last time a Slytherin and Gryffindor have ever been Heads at the same time?"
"Just short of a century Professor." Hermione stated clearly answering as if she were being graded on the question.
"Quite right." McGonagall then looked down at some papers on her desk before looking up at them, as if whatever she had to say was paining her just as much as them. "Each Heads house combination has a specific thing that they must do at the Heads ball. For instance as you both remember last year the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor heads had to perform a task that showed one's bravery and the others wit. The task usually shows both houses strengths."
"Since the school was built Slytherin and Gryffindor have had a rivalry. The house members have always detested one another, which made choosing a specific task for them to perform quite hard. It ended up being changed every time they were given the Heads position together. However a decade into the schools life, it was decided that the Slytherin and Gryffindor Head pairing wouldn't perform a task showing off their skills, but instead do something that forced them to work together. A dance."
McGonagall could tell that the two, though they were brilliant minds, weren't quite following. She took two sheets of paper, identical and handed one to each of the students before her. The paper had on it a schedule, their practice schedule.
"Starting tomorrow evening, you will report to the Great Hall after dinner. You will be learning this dance all week until next Saturday when you will perform it at the ball."
"A dance! With her!" Draco cried outraged. "I certainly will not."
"You will Mr. Malfoy or you will be stripped of your title. Now what will it be?"
Draco merely glared before mumbling his consent. Hermione however just stared blankly at the paper. It was only the second week of school already. She was working overtime to make sure that all of her assignments were completed early, attempting to have a social life, and plan her attire for the ball. Now she had to add dance lessons to the list of aggravating things she had to do. Not to mention she'd be stuck being way to close for comfort with Malfoy.
Hermione wandered back up to the Heads dorm after being dismissed. She wasn't even sure how it was that she made it all the way up there for she was to busy reading and rereading the paper in her hands. The hours of practice were agonizing. She knew that they would have to be long, for they had to learn complicated steps in but a week. But she didn't have the time to spend. She had homework and her dress to design.
Sighing Hermione stepped through the portrait hole, crossing the common room. Draco was in his room she could hear, angrily taking out his frustrations on something within. She knew how he felt, which was strange enough, but she was even beginning to sympathize. She didn't want to do it just as much as he.
Entering her room she collapsed on the bed, thinking about the week to come. All she could see was herself, tripping over her own feet, falling and making a fool of herself. She'd never been a good dancer. She still wasn't even sure how she'd managed the dance for the Yule ball in fourth year. Now her terrible skills would just be something else that Malfoy used against her.
"Oh Merlin give me strength." She whispered as the dance schedule fluttered slowly to her floor.
Poor Hermione. Learning to dance with Malfoy. Wait, if he looks anything like the boy who plays him in the movies, I'd gladly learn to tango with him. lol. Waltz Foxtrot, don't care let me at him. haha. Anyways...read review...go on...it's your duty as a reader.
Starry